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Document:	VAX-11 MACRO Language Reference Manual
Order Number:	AA-D0O32B-TE
Revision:	0
Pages:	186
Original Filename:

OCR Text

February 1979

This document describes the assembly language supported by VAX/VMS.
All symbols, expressions, addressing modes, and directives are detailed. No
prior knowledge of the VAX-11 MACRO asst mbler is assumed.

VAX-11 MACRO
Language Reference Manual
Order No. AA-D032B-TE

SUPERSESSION/UPDATE INFORMATION:

This revised document supersedes

OPERATING SYSTEM AND VERSION:

VAX/VMS V1.5

SOFTWARE VERSION:

VAX-11 MACRO V2.0

the VAX-11 MACRO Language
Reference Manual (Order No.
AA-DO32A-TE)

To order additional copies of this document, contact the Software Distribution
Center, Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard, Massachusetts 01754

digital equipment corporation - maynard, massachusetts

First Printing, August
Revised, February 1979

The
and

information in this document is

should not be

Corporation.
for

any

errors

construed as

1978

subject to change without notice

a commitment by

Digital Equipment

Digital Equipment Corporation assumes no responsibility
that may

appear

this

document.

The

software described in this document is furnished under a license
and may only be used or copied in accordance with the terms of
such

license.

No responéibility is assumed for the use or reliability of software on
equipment

that

not

supplied by

DIGITAL or

its

affiliated companies.

The

postage~prepaid READER'S
document requests the user's
paring future documentation.

COMMENTS
critical

The

following

are

trademarks

DIGITAL

form on the last page of this
evaluation to assist us in pre-

Digital Equipment Corporation:

DECsystem-10

MASSBUS

DEC

DECtape

PDP

OMNIBUS

DIBOL

DECUS

0S/8

EDUSYSTEM

UNIBUS

PHA

FLIP

RSTS

CHIP

COMPUTER LABS

FOCAL

COMTEX

RSX

INDAC

DDT

TYPESET~-8

LAB-8

DECCOMM

DECSYSTEM-~20

TMS-11

ITPS-10

TYPESET-11

ASSIST-11

RTS-8

VAX

VMS

DECnet

SBI

IAS

PDT

DATATRIEVE

TRAX

CONTENTS
Page

vii

PREFACE

SUMMARY OF TECHNICAL CHANGES
1

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER

MACRO SOURCE STATEMENT FORMAT

2.1

LABEL FIELD
OPERAND

2.4

COMMENT FIELD

THE COMPONENTS OF MACRO SOURCE STATEMENTS

Packed Decimal Strings

SYMBOLS
=

Permanent Symbols

User-defined Symbols and Macro Names
Determining Symbol Values

TERMS AND EXPRESSIONS
UNARY OPERATORS
Radix Control Operators
Textual Operators

[)

WWwwhhNNBE

LOCAL LABELS

Operator

Logical AND Operator
Logical Inclusive OR Operator
Logical Exclusive OR Operator
DIRECT ASSIGNMENT STATEMENTS
CURRENT LOCATION COUNTER

[]

GENERAL REGISTER MODES
Register Mode

Register Deferred Mode
Autoincrement Mode
Autoincrement Deferred Mode
Autodecrement Mode
Displacement Mode
Displacement Deferred Mode
Literal Mode

iii

NV
WN

[

O
O
[]
*
[]

G N G
NS
L]
*
.
LJ
*

N
el el

ADDRESSING MODES

=0 0000~y

.3
.4

Arithmetic Shift Operator

A G
S
|
|

ASCII

RER
Y

wh
=

Integers

Floating-Point Numbers

WWWWwWwwwwwwwwwwww
|
(I
I
N I !
i
- HFHRONOOAUTUBEWWWHE

CHARACTER SET

FIELD

NUMBERS

F
L]

CHAPTER

WOSNNNNNOAONON
AT WWWWININNNE

OPERATOR FIELD

2.3

WWWWWWWwWwWwWwWwwwwWwwwwwwuwwuwwwww

CHAPTER

2.2

(%)

CHAPTER

Relative Mode
Relative Deferred Mode
Absolute Mode
Immediate Mode
General Mode

INDEX MODE

BRANCH MODE

GENERAL ASSEMBLER

O ECEGNCG RN RT NS N NT N RE NE)

1
|
PFRPRPOYOOINO
W

.ADDRESS

DIRECTIVES

.ALIGN

.ASCIx
.ASCII
.ASCIC
.ASCID

.ASCIZ

. BLKx
.BYTE

.CROSS
.DEBUG

.DISABLE

.DEFAULT

oo
un w

o
s

VW N

9
o

e
s
¢

DD
B

e
e

PROGRAM COUNTER MODES

19)]

CHAPTER

CONTENTS

.DOUBLE
.ENABLE

.END
.ENDC

.ENTRY

.ERROR
.EVEN
.EXTERNAL

.FLOAT

.GLOBAL
. IDENT

IF
LIF

LIIF
.LIST

.LONG

.MASK
.NLIST

5-38

.NOCROSS

5-39

.NOSHOW
.ODD

.OPDEF
.PACKED

5-42
5-42
5-43
5-44
5-49
5-50
5-51

.PAGE

.PRINT
.PSECT

.QUAD

. REFn
-RESTORE PSECT

.SAVE

PSECT

5-52
5-54
5-56

.SHOW

.SIGNED_ BYTE

. SIGNED_WORD

5-57

CONTENTS

Page

5-59

.SUBTITLE
.TITLE

. TRANSFER
. WARN

. WEAK

MACROS

6.1
6.1.1
6.1.2
6.1.3

ARGUMENTS IN MACROS
Default Values
Keyword Arguments
String Arguments

AN
|
I
|
=Moo
WWH

CHAPTER

|
[

.WORD

6.1.4
6.1.5

6.1.6
6.1.7

Argument Concatenation
Passing Numeric Values of Symbols
Created Local Labels
Macro String Operators

$LENGTH Operator
6.1.7.1
$LOCATE Operator
6.1.7.2
$EXTRACT Operator
6.1.7.3
MACRO DIRECTIVES
6.2
. ENDM

-12

6-13

. ENDR
.IRP

. IRPC
.LIBRARY

.MACRO
.MCALL

.MDELETE
MEXIT

.NARG
.NCHR

.NTYPE

.REPEAT

APPENDIX A

ASCII CHARACTER SET

APPENDIX B

VAX~-11] MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND

APPENDIX D
D.1
D.2
D.3

PERMANENT SYMBOL TABLE

OPCODES
OPCODES

(ALPHABETIC ORDER)
(NUMERIC ORDER)

o Na]

HHRWOVONH

PPYTYRY
[

~ =

c.1
C.2

Macro String Operators
ADDRESSING MODES

HEXADECIMAL/DECIMAL CONVERSION
HEXADECIMAL TO DECIMAL
DECIMAL TO HEXADECIMAL
POWERS OF 2 AND 16

APPENDIX C

Unary Operators
Binary Operators

0O-

B.3.3
B.4

OPERATORS

a0|

B.3.1
B.3.2

B.3

ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES
SPECIAL CHARACTERS

?tj?

B.1
B.2

LANGUAGE SUMMARY

CONTENTS

Page

INDEX

Index-1

FIGURES
FIGURE

5-1

Using

Transfer

Vectors

5-61

TABLES

TABLE

3-1

Special

Characters

Used

Statements

3-2

Separating Characters

3-3

Unary Operators

4-1
4-2

4-3
5-1
5-2

5-3

5-5
5-6
5-7

6-1

3-11

Addressing Modes
Floating Point Short Literals
Index Mode Addressing
Summary of General Assembler Directives
-ENABLE

and

Condition

.DISABLE

Tests

for

Symbolic

Arguments

Conditional

Default

Program Section Attributes
.SHOW and .NOSHOW Symbolic Arguments
Summary of Macro Directives

B-1
B-2

Assembler Directives
Special Characters Used

B-3

Unary Operators
Binary Operators

Conversion

Statements

3-15

4-2
4-11

4-17
5-1
5-18

Assembly

Operand Descriptors
Program Section Attributes

Hexadecimal/ASCII

B-5

3-1
3-3

A-1

B-4

MACRO

Binary Operators

Directives
5-4

VAX-11

in VAX-11 MACRO

Statements
3-4

in VAX-11 MACRO

5-30
5-40
5-45
5-47
5-55

6-2
A-1

B-1
B-7

B-8

Macro

B-6

String Operators
Addressing Modes

D-1

Hexadecimal/Decimal

Conversion

B-9
B-10
B-11
D-3

PREFACE

MANUAL OBJECTIVES

the features that
This manual describes the VAX-11 MACRO language:
The
are in the language and the format and function of each feature.
VAX-11 MACRO User's Guide describes how to use VAX-11l MACRO.
INTENDED AUDIENCE

This manual is intended for all programmers writing VAX-11] MACRO
Programmers should be familiar with assembly language
programs.
programming, the VAX-11l instruction set, and the VAX/VMS operating
system before reading this manual.

The VAX-11 MACRO User's Guide provides a brief introduction to the
assembler and describes the commands necessary to use VAX-11 MACRO.
VAX-11/780
the
describes
The VAX-11/780 Architecture Handbook
All programmers should read these manuals before
instruction set.
using this language reference manual.
STRUCTURE OF THIS DOCUMENT

This manual is organized into six chapters

and

appendixes,

five

follows:

Chapter 1 introduces the features of the VAX-11 MACRO language

Chapter 2 describes the format used

VAX-11

MACRO

source

statements

Chapter 3 describes the components of VAX-11 MACRO source
1local
symbols;
numbers;
set;
the character
statements:
unary and binary operators;
terms and expressions;
labels;

and

the

current

Chapter 4 summarizes and gives examples

the

direct

statements;

assignment

location

counter

e
e

VAX-11 MACRO addressing modes

Chapter

MACRO

describes

the

VAX-11]

describes

the

directives

use

general

the

assembler

directives

used

defining

and

used

Chapter 6

Appendix A lists the ASCII character set that can be

expanding macros

VAX~-11

MACRO programs

vii

Appendix

summarizes

directives
operators,

the

general

(in alphabetical
binary

order),

operators,

and

Appendix C lists alphabetically
for use with VAX-11] MACRO
Appendix

D gives

rules

for

assembler

special

addressing

the

and

macro

characters,

unary

modes

permanent

symbols

hexadecimal/decimal

defined

conversion

ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

The

following

documents

VAX-11

MACRO

VAX/VMS

For

VAX-11l

Linker

VAX-11l

Symbolic

complete

USED

following

all

the

IN THIS

conventions

([])

Uppercase

the

word

Lowercase

word

and

words

Ellipses

(...)

repeated

one

Manual

documents,

Information

observed

that

the

including

brief

other

Directory.

used

typed
used

user's

choice

that

times

viii

this

manual,

enclosed

etters,

indicate
more

the

letters,

s .ould

and

Guide

Reference

VAX-11

are

letter

value

MACRO programming:

Manual

VAX-11l

indicate

words

VAX-11

DOCUMENT

documents:

Brackets

User's

Debugger

see

Guide

Reference

1list

CONVENTIONS

relevant

Language

each,

The

User's

Command

description

VAX-11

are

the

argument

optional

formats,

exactly
in

formats,

preceding

indicate

shown
indicate

that

can

substituted

item(s)

that

SUMMARY OF TECHNICAL CHANGES

This section summarizes

This manual documents VAX-11 MACRO V2.0.
technical

changes from Version

the

The following new directives have been added:

.ASCID - stores an ASCII string with a string descriptor

.CROSS and .NOCROSS - control the cross reference listing

.DEFAULT - controls the default displacement

.OPDEF - defines an opcode

.SIGNED BYTE and

.SIGNED_WORD - specify signed data storage

The following directives have had new arguments added:

the

suppresses

.ENABLE=SUPPRESSION

symbols

symbol

listing

unreferenced

table

.SAVE PSECT LOCAL_BLOCK - preserves the local label block when

the program section

saved

In addition, new forms of directives and directive arguments have been
These new forms
added to make VAX-11 MACRO programs easier to read.
The old forms are
have the same effect as their equivalent old form.

still

accepted

the

directives have been added:

014

New Form
:

.DISABLE
.ENABLE
.EXTERNAL
.GLOBAL
.IF FALSE

.IF TRUE
.IF TRUE FALSE
.NOSHOW ~
.REPEAT
.RESTORE

PSECT

.SAVE PSECT
.SHOW
.SUBTITLE

assembler.
Form

.DSABL
.ENABL
.EXTRN
.GLOBL
.IFF

JIFT
.IFTF
.NLIST

.REPT
.RESTORE

.SAVE

LLIST
.SBTTL

The

following

new

forms

New

forms

have

-DISABLE,

used

All

been

.SHOW,

the

.IF

and

for

Three

new macro
added
to

been

operators

are

following

symbolic

which

are described

described

Section

miscellaneous

changes

have

The register
expression.

the

mask

storage

Chapter

the

.ENABLE,

condition

except

tests

the

also

correct

been made:
number

.ENTRY directive

directives

repetition
expression
of

Chapter

the

6.1.7.

that the
call.

data

for

string operators, ¥LENGTH, 3%LOCATE, and $EXTRACT, have
allow
string
manipulation
in macros.
These string

The assembler checks
specified in a macro

for

and

.IIF directives.

arguments

.NOSHOW directives

the preceding directives

-REPEAT directive

The

added
and

with

must

repetition

factor
must
be
an
absolute
specifying the value to be stored
expression (documentation change).

The
general
change).

addressing

mode

indexable

arguments

factor,

are

absolute

only

expression.
can be
any

the

The
kind

(documentation

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

(or
The VAX-11 MACRO assembler translates source programs into object
binary) code and produces a listing file and an object module file.
The VAX-11 Linker
executable image.

information on using

then combines object modules
See the VAX-11 MACRO User's

the

assembler.

features of the VAX-11 MACRO language.

This

chapter

an
to produce
Guide for more

introduces

the

VAX-11 MACRO source programs consist of a series of source statements.
Each statement can contain an instruction, an assembler directive, or

a direct assignment statement. The instructions, which can be any of
the VAX-11/780 native mode instructions, can perform many types of
data manipulation such as multiplication, transfer of control, and
The instructions are described in the VAX-11/780
data conversion.
Architecture Handbook. The assembler directives and direct assignment
Statements create and initialize data areas and provide tools for
using the

instructions.

label, operator, operand, and
Source statements have four fields:
comment. The label field identifies the location in the program. The
The
operator field contains the instruction opcode or directive.
operand field contains the instruction operands or the directive
arguments.

accessed

the

the instruction.

that

locations

The instruction operands specify the

are

The comment field explains the meaning

statement.

assembler

the general

There are two classes of assembler directives:

directives and the macro directives.

The general assembler directives can be used to perform the following:
@

Store data or reserve memory for data storage

Control the alignment in memory of parts of the program

e
e

Specify the methods of accessing the

which the program will be stored.

Specify the entry point of the

sections
of

program

memory

the

assembled

only

part

program

Specify the way in which symbols will be referenced

Specify that a part of the program is

Control the format and content of the listing file

Display informational messages

under certain conditions

1-1

INTRODUCTION

The

Control

the

assembler

source

program

Define

new opcodes

macro

directives

which

allow

source

statements

are

used

programmer

statements

each

programmer

errors.

throughout

time.

options

Macros

to
a

that

define

repeat
program

and

are

macros

and

identical

without

repeat

used

blocks

repeat

similar

having

can

interpret

thus

blocks,

series

reenter

help

the

of
the

minimize

CHAPTER

MACRO SOURCE STATEMENT FORMAT

A source program consists of a sequence of
source
statements,
which
the
assembler interprets and processes, one by one, generating object

code
or
performing
a
specific
assembly-time
process.
A
source
statement
can be on one source line or can extend onto several source
lines.
Each source line can be up to 132 characters
1long;
however,

fits

line

should

exceed

80 characters to ensure that the source line

(with the binary expansion)

on one line in the listing file.

MACRO statements can consist of up to four

Label field -- allows the program
location

symbolically

define

in a program

the
Operator field -- specifies the action to be performed by
statement;
this
field
can
be an instruction, an assembler

directive,

fields:

a macro

call

Operand field -- contains the instruction
operand(s)
or
assembler directive argument
(s) or the macro argument
(s)

Comment field -- contains a comment that explains the

the

execution

statement;

this

field

does

not

affect

the

meaning
program

The label field and the comment field are optional.
The
1label
field
ends
with
a
colon (:) and the comment field starts with a semicolon
(:).
The operand field must conform to the format of the instruction,
directive, or macro specified in the operator field.

(see
Although the statement fields can be separated by a space or tab
Table
3-2),
formatting
statements with the
tab character
is
recommended for consistency and clarity.
By DIGITAL convention,
tab
characters are used to separate the statement fields as follows:
Field

Begins

in Column

Tab Characters to Reach Column

Label

Operator

Operand

Comment

MACRO SOURCE

For

example:
.TITLE

ROUTI1

.ENTRY

START,O0

CLRL

LABT:

SUBL3

LAB2:

(=)

LABl:

CONT

statement

can be continued on

the

last

nonblank

line

(when

there

MACRO

character

;

above

SUBTRACT

BRANCH

several

comment).

RPBSL IOVEC (R7)
the

;

before

W“BOO$AL_VECTOR,—

treats

the

For

TO ANOTHER ROUTINE

lines by using
comment

MOVAL

statement

permanent

symbol

can

name

a
tab
or
character.
Note

6),

that

the

Blank

continued

names

continued

statement

any

should

not

and

the

equivalent

when

statement

lines,

cannot

although

except

The following
detail.

that

occurs

1legal,

sections

have

terminate

describe

the

SAVE BOOT DRIVER
But

continued

character

macro

than

no
a

following

wuser-defined

two

the

second

definition

500

each

(see

line
at

that

Chapter

characters.

significance

continued

and

lines.

name
will
be
terminated
symbols in detail.)

contain more

they

;

point.

first

a
blank,
the
symbol
(Section 3.3 describes

statement

program

2.1

a hyphen
or

SAVE ADDRESS OF
BOOT DEVICE DRIVER.

W*BOO$AL_VECTOR,RPB$L_IOVEC(R7)

symbol

field

example:

statement:

LABl:

ROUTINE

: CLEAR REGISTER

$10,4 (AP)R2

MOVAL

VAX-11

BEGINNING

BRB

A single
end

STATEMENT FORMAT

the

source

line.

the

statement

fields

LABEL FIELD

A label

program.

user-defined

The

symbol

assigned

that
a

identifies

value

equal

1location

the

location

the

counter

at the location in the program section in which the label occurs
(see
the
VAX-11
MACRO
User's Guide for information on program sections).
The user-defined symbol name can be up to 15 characters long
and
can
contain
any
alphanumeric character and the underline( ), dollar sign

($), and period (.) characters.
Section 3.3 describes The
forming user-defined symbol names in more detail.

If a statement
on the line.
A

label

contains

terminated

single

colon

module

(an

indicates

internal

label,

colon

that

symbol).

the

label

(:)

label

A double

is
globally
defined;
that is, the
object modules (see Section 3.3.2).
Once

label

program.
an

error

is
a

message

referenced.

defined,
label is
when

the

must

double

the

rules

first

field

(z2).

The

colon

is defined only

for

colon

that

label

indicates

can be

for

the current
the

1label

referenced by other

cannot
be
redefined
during
the
source
more than once, VAX-11 MACRO displays

defined
label

defined

and

again

when

MACRO SOURCE STATEMENT FORMAT

If a label extends past column 7, it should be placed

itself so that the operator field can start in column 9.

ERROR_IN ARG:

MOVL

EXP,R1

BRW
« BLKL
. BLKW

EXIT_ROU
50
25

INCL

WO
MO
WO

TEST1:
EXP:
DATA::

TEST::

CLRL

EVAL:

2.2

example:

For

line

ROUTINE EVALUATES EXPRESSIONS
THE ARG-LIST CONTAINS AN ERRO!
INCREMENT ERROR COUNT
THIS TESTS ROUTINE
REFERENCED EXTERNALLY
GO TO EXIT ROUTINE

TABLES STORES EXPECTED VALUES
DATA TABLE ACCESSED BY STORE
ROUTINE IN ALGO MODULE

OPERATOR FIELD

The operator field specifies
This field can
statement.

the action to
contain either

assembler directive, or a macro call.

performed by the
instruction, or an

be
an

When the operator is an instruction, VAX-11 MACRO generates the binary
code for that instruction in the object module; the instruction set
When the
is described in the VAX-11/780 Architecture Handbook.
actions
control
certain
performs
MACRO
operator is a directive, VAX-11]
the
assembly;
or processing operations during source program
assembler directives are described in Chapters 5 and 6 of this manual.
When the operator is a macro call, VAX-11
macro calls are described in Chapter 6.

Either a space or a

tab

character

MACRO

terminates

the

macro;

operator

field;

expands

the

however, the tab is the recommended terminating character.

2.3

OPERAND FIELD

The operand field can contain operands for instructions
for assembler directives or macro calls.

arguments

Operands for instructions specify the locations in memory or the
registers that are used by the machine operation. Operands for
instructions specify the addressing mode for the instruction. Chapter
4 describes the VAX-11 addressing modes. The operand field for a
specific instruction must contain the number of operands required by
See the VAX-11/780 Architecture Handbook for a
that instruction.

description of the instructions and their operands.

Arguments for a directive must meet the format requirements of the
directive. Chapters 5 and 6 describe the directives and the format of
their

arguments.

Operands for a macro must meet the requirements specified in the macro
definition. See the description of the .MACRO directive in Chapter 6.
If two or more operands are specified, they should be separated by
VAX-11 MACRO also allows a space or tab to be used as a
commas.
separator for arguments to directives that do not accept expressions
(see Section 3.5). However, a comma is required to separate operands
for instructions and for directives that accept expressions as
arguments.

MACRO SOURCE

The semicolon
field.
If a
terminated by

2.4

STATEMENT FORMAT

that starts the comment
field
terminates
the
line does not have a comment field, the operand
the end of the 1line.

operand
field is

COMMENT FIELD

The

comment

statement.

field

contains

Every

line

text
code

that
should

explains
have

the

meaning

comment.

Comments

of
do

the
not

affect assembly processing or program execution
except
for
messages
displayed
during assembly by the .ERROR, +«PRINT, and .WARN directiv
es
(see descriptions in Chapter 5).

The comment field must be preceded by a semicolon and
is
the
end
of
the
1line.
The comment field can contain

ASCII

character

(see

comment does

next,
comment

but

the

can

not

Appendix

fit

on one

continuation

appear

A).

line

line,

must
by

can

preceded

be
by

terminated by
any printable

continued

another

itself,

semicolon.

the
A

The comment's text normally conveys the meaning rather
than the action
of
the
statement.
The instruction MOVAL BUF PTR 1,R7, for instance,
should have a comment such as "GET POINTER TO FIRST
BUFFER" not
"MOVE

ADDRESS
For

BUF_PTR
1 TO

R7."

example:

MOVAL

STRING_DES 1,R0

MOVZIWL

(RO),R1

MOVL

4(RO),RO

2-4

;

GET ADDRESS

DESCRIPTOR

GET

LENGTH

GET

ADDRESS

OF
OF
OF

STRING
STRING
STRING

CHAPTER

THE COMPONENTS OF MACRO SOURCE STATEMENTS

source
MACRO
VAX-11
of
components
the
describes
chapter
This
statements.
These components consist of the character set;
numbers;

unary and binary
and expressions;
terms
1local labels;
symbols;
and the current location
statements;
assignment
direct
operators;
counter.

3.1

CHARACTER SET

The

following

characters

can

used

VAX-11

MACRO

source

statements:

through
a
Both uppercase and lowercase letters (A through %2,
However, the assembler considers lowercase
accepted.
are
z)
in
letters equivalent to uppercase except when they appear
ASCII

strings.

The digits

The

special

through

characters listed

Table

Special

Character

Characters

Used

in Table

3-1.

3-1

in VAX-11 MACRO Statements

Character Name

Function
==

Underline

Character in symbol names

Dollar sign

Character in symbol names

Period

Colon

Equal sign

Character in symbol names,

current location counter,
decimal point

Label

and

terminator

Direct assignment operator and

macro keyword argument terminator

Tab

Field terminator

Space

Field terminator
(continued on next page)

3-1

THE

COMPONENTS

OF MACRO SOURCE

Table

Special

Character

Characters

Character

Number

At sign

3-1

Used

STATEMENTS

(Cont.)

VAX-11

MACRO Statements

Name

sign

Function

Immediate
indicator

addressing

mode

Deferred addressing mode
indicator and arithmetic

shift

operator

Comma

Field,

operand,

and

item

separator

;

Semicolon

Comment

Plus

Autoincrement

sign

field

indicator
addressing

mode

indicator, unary plus operator,
and arithmetic addition operator
-

Minus sign or
hyphen

Autodecrement
addressing
mode
indicator, unary minus operator,

arithmetic subtraction operator,
and line continuation indicator
*

Asterisk

Arithmetic

multiplication

operator

Slash

Arithmetic division operator

Ampersand

Logical

AND operator

Exclamation
point

Logical

inclusive

Backslash

Logical exclusive OR and numeric
conversion indicator in macro

OR operator

arguments

Circumflex

Unary operators and macro
argument

[]

Square

brackets

()

Parentheses

delimiter

Index addressing mode and
count indicators
Register

deferred

repeat

addressing

mode

indicators
<>

Angle

brackets

Argument

expression

grouping

delimiters
?

Question mark

Created

label

indicator

in macro

arguments

Apostrophe

Macro

argument

concatenation

indicator
$

Table

Percent

3-2 defines

the

sign

separating

Macro

string

characters

used

operators

VAX-11l MACRO.

THE COMPONENTS OF MACRO SOURCE STATEMENTS
3-2

Table

Separating Characters in VAX-11] MACRO Statements
Character

Character

Usage

Name

Separator between statement
Spaces within
fields.
expressions (see Section 3.5)

Space or tab

are

ignored.

Separator between symbolic

Comma

’

arguments within the operand

field.

Multiple expressions in

the operand field must be
separated

by commas.

NUMBERS

3.2

Numbers can be integers, floating-point

numbers,

packed

decimal

strings.

1Integers

3.2.1

Integers can be used in any expression including expressions in
operands and in direct assignment statements (Section 3.5 describes
expressions).
Format
snn

An optional sign:

default)
nn

plus

or minus sign

(-)

sign

(+)

for

positive

for negative numbers.

A string of numeric characters that are

1legal

for

numbers

the

(the

current

radix.

VAX-11 MACRO interprets all integers in the source program as decimal
unless the number is preceded by a radix control operator (see Section
3.6.1).

Integers must be in the range of -2147483648 through 2147483647 for
signed data or in the range of 0 through 4294967295 for unsigned data.
Negative numbers must be preceded by a minus sign;
translates such numbers into 2's complement form.

numbers,

3.2.2

VAX-11 MACRO
In positive

the plus sign is optional.

Floating-Point Numbers

A floating-point

number

can

with

used

the

.FLOAT

and

.DOUBLE

Chapter 5) or as an operand in a
in
(described
directives
floating-point instruction. A floating-point number cannot be used in
an

expression

wunary or binary operator except the unary

THE

COMPONENTS

MACRO

SOURCE

STATEMENTS

plus, unary minus, and unary floating-point operator
3.6 and 3.7 describe unary and binary operators.
A

floating-point

number

can be

specified

with

(°F).

without

through

Sections

exponent.

Formats

Floating-point

number

without

number

with

exponent:

snn

snn.nn
snn.

Floating-point

exponent:

snnEsnn
snn.nnEsnn

snn.Esnn
s

optional

sign.

A string
The

decimal

However,

decimal

point

note

can

that

digits

appear

Floating-point numbers can
double-precision
(64-bit)

digits

for

the

anywhere

floating-point

point because VAX-1ll MACRO will
symbol
(see Section 3.3.2).

numbers.

range
to

the

number

treat

the

be
either
quantities.

single-precision numbers

and

right

the

cannot

start

number

first

with

truncated.

5)
or

control

The

.ENABLE

whether

truncated.

The VAX-11/780
floating-point

Packed

and

numbers

.DISABLE

single-precision

Double-precision

rounded.

3.2.3

floating-point

Architecture

single-precision
(32-bit)
or
The degree of precision is 7

16 digits

Decimal

can be

for

rounded

directives

double-precision

Handbook

be
smaller
1.7E38.

(by default)

(described

Chapter

numbers

are

rounded

floating-point
floating

numbers.

digit.
decimal

user-defined

The magnitude of a nonzero floating-point
number
cannot
than approximately 0.29E-38 or greater than approximately
Single-precision

point

numbers

are

always

describes

the

internal

only

the

.PACKED

directive

range

format

Strings

packed decimal string can
(described in Chapter 5).

used

Format
snn

optional

sign.

string

from

decimal

3-4

digits

the

through

THE COMPONENTS OF MACRO SOURCE STATEMENTS

A packed decimal string cannot have a decimal point or an exponent.

The VAX-11/780 Architecture Handbook describes the internal format

packed decimal

strings.

SYMBOLS

3.3

source
MACRO
Three types of symbols can be used in VAX-11]
permanent symbols, user-defined symbols, and macro names.

3.3.1

programs:

Permanent Symbols

(see Appendix
Permanent symbols consist of the instruction mnemonics
5 and 6), and the
Chapters
(see
the VAX-11 MACRO directives
C),
The instruction mnemonics and directives need not be
register names.
in the operator field of a VAX-11 MACRO
defined before being used

source statement.

The register names need not be defined before being

The register names
(see Chapter 4).
in the addressing modes
used
cannot be redefined; that is, no user-defined symbol can have one of
the register names listed below.

The 16 general registers of the VAX-11/780 processor can be

expressed

in a source program only as follows:
Register

Processor Register

Name

General

R11

General

R12 or
AP

RI12 is
If
12 or argument pointer.
General register
is
AP
the name
used as an argument pointer,
R12 is used as a general register,
if
recommended ;
the name R1l2

is recommended.

Frame pointer

Stack pointer

Program counter

THE

3.3.2

User-defined

User~defined

specific

symbols

®
®

can

symbols

following
®

Symbols

also

used

the

User-defined

symbols

characters,

underlines

labels

used

creation
can

(

The

first

character

The

symbol

The

(see

expression

signs

must
15

not

characters

Section

alphanumeric

and

symbol.

symbols:

($),

3.8).

(see

user-defined

the

than

equated

Section

composed

symbol

can

periods

(.).

number.
long

and

must

DIGITAL convention:

dollar

This

dollar

terminates
a

any

character

must

STATEMENTS

statement

Any other

In addition,

sign

($)

convention

reserved

ensures

not
have
a
dollar
DIGITAL-defined name

can be

rules govern

SOURCE

Macro Names

assignment

unique.

OF MACRO

and

value by a direct

User-defined
3.5).

The

COMPONENTS

that

sign)
(which

for

names

defined

user-defined name

DIGITAL.

(which

will
not
conflict
does have a dollar sign).

does

with

The period (.) should not be used in any
global
symbol
name
(see
Section 3.3.3) because other languages, such as FORTRAN,
do not allow periods in symbol names.

Macro names follow the same
rules
and
conventions
as
user-defined
symbols
(see the description of the .MACRO directive in Chapter 6 for
more information on macro
names).
User-defined
symbols
and
macro
names

not

user-defined
user-defined

3.3.3

conflict;

symbol
symbols

Determining

The

value

uses

that

1is,

the

and
a
macro.
and macros should

Symbol

symbol

depends

its

use

method

operator

field

operand

to determine

field.

symbol

macro

following

This

uses

operator
VAX-11

field

MACRO

Previously

User-defined

Permanent

Macro

search
If

permanent

symbol

can

used

for

to
avoid
confusion,
different names.

can

opcode

symbols

(see

the

for

program.

values

either

searches

macro

the

a
a

symbols

permanent
symbol

VAX-11
symbols

symbol

definition

MACRO
in

the

or
in

a
the

names
the

.OPDEF

(instructions

description

and

Chapter

directives)

libraries

order
a

defined

determine

order:

names.
a

the

name.

name

Values

different

than

same

However,
be given

allows permanent

symbol

symbol,

the

name.

operand

the

symbols

operator

assembler

field

displays

must

‘

to
is

be
not

redefined
defined

an error

either

as
a

macro

message.

user-defined

symbol

THE COMPONENTS OF MACRO SOURCE STATEMENTS

User-defined symbols can be either local (internal) symbols or global
Whether symbols are local or global depends on
symbols.
(external)
their use

in the source program.

A local symbol can be referenced only in the module in which it is
If local symbols with the same names are defined in
defined.
A global
different modules, the symbols are completely independent.
in the
module
any
from
referenced
be
can
however,
symbol's definition,
program.

Normally, VAX-11 MACRO treats all user-defined symbols as local when
However, a symbol definition can be explicitly
they are defined.
declared to be global by any one of the following three methods:

Section

Use of the double colon (::) in defining a label (see

Use of the double equal

Use of the .GLOBAL, .ENTRY, or .WEAK directive (see Chapter 5)

2.1)

statement

(==)

sign

(see Section 3.8)

direct

assignment

When a symbol is referenced within the module in which it is defined,
VAX-11 MACRO considers the reference an internal reference. When a
symbol is referenced within a module in which it is not defined,
VAX~11 MACRO considers the reference an external reference (that is,

The .DISABLE directive can
the symbol is defined in another module).
not defined in the current
symbols
to
references
make
be used to
1In this case, the .EXTERNAL directive must be used to
module illegal.
See Chapter 5
specify that the reference is an external reference.
for descriptions of the .DISABLE and .EXTERNAL directives.

3.4

LOCAL LABELS

source

user-defined

symbol

Local labels cannot be referenced outside the block of

source

Local labels are used to identify addresses within a block

code.

Format

nn$
nn

A decimal integer in the range of 1 through 65535.

Local labels can be used

labels,

e
e
e
e

the

same

way

but with the following differences:
code

in which they appear.

Local labels can be reused in another block of source code.
Local labels do not appear in the

cannot be accessed by the debugger.

symbol

and,

tables

thus,

Local labels cannot be used in .END (see Chapter 5)

By convention, local labels are positioned the same
they are 1left-justified in the
that is,
labels;

Although local labels can appear in

convention,

the

program

statement
as
source text.

any

order,

the local labels in any block of source code should be in

numeric order.

THE

Local

labels

only

within

are

used

are

useful

the

only

COMPONENTS

branch

block.

OF MACRO

Local

SOURCE

STATEMENTS

addresses

when the address
1is
distinguish between labels

labels

small

used
that

block of code and labels that are
referenced
elsewhere in the module.
A disadvantage of local labels is that their
numeric
names
cannot
provide
any
indication
of
their
purpose.
Consequently,
local
labels
should
not
be
used to label logically
unrelated sequences of statements;
user-defined
symbols
should
be
used instead.

DIGITAL

recommends

29999$

in the range
6.1.6).
A

local

that

because

label

users

assembler

655358

30000$

block

delimited

user-defined

.PSECT directive

The

.ENABLE

extend

label

block

create

the

1 ocal labels only in the range of
au tomatically creates local labels
for
use
in
macros
(see
Section

the

following

statements:

label

and

(see

Chapter

.DISABLE directives (see Chapter 5)
label
block
beyond user-defined

local
.PSECT directives

local

However,

the

usually delimited
LOCAL

BLOCK

terminated only by one of the
®

second

®¢

.DISABLE

label
Although
another,
not

should
An

-ENABLE

.ENABLE

local

LOCAL

label

referenced

used

example

blocks

from

another

instead.

showing

the

use

RPSUB:

MOVL

10S:

AMOUNT,
RO

SUBL2

DELTA,RO

BGTR

108

ADDL2

DELTA,RO

MOVL

MAX,R1

CLRL

COMP:

10S$:

208:

ENTR1:

ENTR2:

CMPL

RO,R1

BGTR

208

SUBL

INCR,RO

INCL

BRB

108

MOVL

R2,COUNT

BRW

TEST

. ENABLE

LOCAL

POPR

# "M<RO,R1,R2>

BLOCK

ADDL3

RO,R1,R3

BRB

108

SUBL2

directive

can

recommends

R2,R3

two

extend

that

and

user-defined

starts

followed

from

local

program

local

can

labels

local

one

labels

that

user-defined

program
in

section.

labels

one

section

program

LOCAL

LABEL

BLOCK

LOCAL

LABEL

10$

CONDITIONAL
ENDS

BRANCH TO

WHEN

BLOCK

AND

NOT

LOCAL

STARTS

LOCAL
>

EXECUTED WHEN

LABEL

NEW ONE

UNCONDITIONAL
LOCAL

BRANCH

UNCONDITIONAL
START

LOCAL

BY A

NOT

LABEL

LOCAL

LABEL

BRANCH

LABEL
LABEL

NOT

LOCAL

USER-DEFINED

BLOCK

TERMINATED

USER-DEFINED

BRANCH

LABEL

USER-DEFINED
THAT WILL

LABEL

DEFINE NEW LOCAL LABEL 10$
CONDITIONAL BRANCH TO LOCAL

DEFINE

symbols

follows.

STARTS

EXECUTED

section

User-defined

DEFINE

1labels.

block

directive

.PSECT directive

DIGITAL

LOCAL_BLOCK
BLOCK

directive

following:

WO NE NG MO N WE N W NG WO N WO WO W we WO TMS WO “e we w2

which

LABEL

LABEL
LABEL

DOES NOT START A NEW
LOCAL LABEL BLOCK

THAT

AFTER

THE COMPONENTS OF MACRO SOURCE STATEMENTS

R2,R3
208

SUBL2
BGTR
INCL
BRB

RO
NEXT

10s:

3.5

WNE

USER-DEFINED LABEL
DEFINE LOCAL LABEL
DIRECTIVE FOLLOWED

DECL
RO
.DISABLE LOCAL_BLOCK
CLRL
R4

BY USER-DEFINED LABEL TERMINATES

208:

DEFINE LOCAL LABEL
CONDITIONAL BRANCH TO LOCAL LABEL
EXECUTED WHEN R2 NOT > R3
UNCONDITIONAL BRANCH TO

LOCAL

LABEL BLOCK

TERMS AND EXPRESSIONS

A term can be any one of

the following:

A number

The current location counter

A textual operator followed by text

Any of the above preceded by a

symbol

(see Section 3.9)

(see Section 3.6.2)

unary

operator

(see

Section

3.6)

VAX-11 MACRO evaluates terms as

longword

(4-byte)

values.

undefined
symbol
1is used as a term, the linker determines the term's
value.
The current location counter (.) has the value of the location
counter

the

start of

the current operand.

Expressions are combinations of terms joined by binary operators
(see
Section
3.7) and evaluated as longword (4-byte) values.
VAX-11l MACRO
evaluates expressions from left to right with no
operator
precedence
rules.
However,
angle brackets (<>) can be used to change the order
of evaluation.
Any part of an expression that is
enclosed
in
angle
brackets
is
first evaluated to a single value, which is then used in
evaluating the complete
expression.
For
example,
the
expressions
A*B+C
and
A*<B+C> are different.
Angle brackets can also be used to
apply a unary operator to an entire expression, such as -<A+B>.
Note that unary operators are considered part of a term;
thus, VAX-1ll
MACRO performs
the
action
indicated
by a unary operator before it
performs the action indicated by any binary operator.
All expressions are one of three
external

types:

relocatable,

absolute,

(global).

An expression is relocatable if its value is fixed relative to

the
start
of
the
program section in which it appears.
The
current location
counter
1is
relocatable
in
a
relocatable

program section.

An expression is absolute if its
wvalue
is
an
assembly-time
constant.
An
expression
whose
terms
are
all
numbers is
absolute.
An expression that consists of a
relocatable
term
minus
another
relocatable term from the same program section
is
absolute,
because
assembly-time constant.

such

expression

reduces

An expression is external if it contains one or
that are not defined

in the current module.

3-9

symbols

THE COMPONENTS OF MACRO SOURCE STATEMENTS

Any

type

expression

restrictions
®

.ALIGN

.BLKx

.IF

.REPEAT repeat

.OPDEF

opcode

.ENTRY

entry

.BYTE,

.LONG,

alignment
storage

and

.IIF

repetition

can

used

1in

are placed on expressions

Direct

most

used

in:

macro

statements,

but

directive

allocation

conditional
block

directives

assembly

block

directives

directive

definition directive
point

directive

.WORD,

.SIGNED_BYTE,

and

.SIGNED

WORD

directive

factors

assignment

statements

(see

Section

3.8)

See Chapter 5 for descriptions of the directives listed above,
except
.REPEAT
which
1is
described in Chapter 6.
Expressions used in these

directives

and

symbols

that

cannot

contain

current

external

addition,

Expressions

showing

the

use

statements
can
defined in the current

symbols
the

direct

defined
these

assignment

expressions

later

directives

statements

the
must

can

follows.

LAB+<A/2>

+.BLKB

LAB2-LAB

wO
"o
“NF

CONTAINS

LAB

TST+LAB+2

UNDEFINED

LAB+<A/2>
UNDEFINED

SYMBOLS

RELOCATABLE
CONTAINS

SYMBOLS

LAB2-LAB IS AN ABSOLUYUTE EXPRESSI
CONTAINS NO UNDEFINED SYMBOL

LAB3-LAB2

AND
BUT

AN ABSOLUTE

CONTAINS

«.WORD

EXPRESSION
EXPRESSION A

RELOCATABLE

THAT

LAB3:

LAB3-LAB2

AN ABSOLUTE
AN ABSOLUTE

TST+LAB+2

«.WORD

IS
IS

EXPRESSION AND

LAB2:

BLKW

2*100
A+50

HALF

A+50

LAB:

only
contain
module.
They

2*%100
.BLKB

3.6

symbols

expressions

either

assignment

previously

example

direct
been

module.

be absolute.
relocatable.
An

1in

have

BECAUSE

THE

DEFINED

TST

AN
IS

SYMBOL
LATER

EXTERNAL
AN

EXPRESS
LAB3
THIS

EXTERNAL

SYMBO

UNARY OPERATORS

unary

action

operator

modifies

performed

term or

that

expression,

term or

expression.

and

indicates

Expressions

must

be enclosed in
angle
brackets.
Unary
operators
can
be
wused
to
indicate
whether
a
term
or
expression is positive or negative (if
unary plus or minus is not specified, the value is assumed to be plus,

by
default).
In addition, unary operators perform radix conversion,
textual conversion (including ASCII conversion), and
numeric
control
operations,
as
described in Sections 3.6.1 through 3.6.3.
Table 3-3
summarizes the unary operations.

3-10

EXPRESS

THE COMPONENTS OF MACRO SOURCE STATEMENTS

Table

3-3

Unary Operators

Unary

Operator

Operator Name
F

Example

——

Plus

Operation

e i

—

——

Results in the
value of A

Minus sign

-A

Results in the negative

Binary

“B11000111

Decimal

“Dl127

oOctal

“034

Hexadecimal

“XFCF9

ASCII

“A/ABC/

# "M<R3,R4,R5> | Specifies the registers

sign

—

positive

(2's complement)
of A

Specifies that 11000111
is

a binary number

Specifies that 127 is a

decimal

number

Specifies that 34 is an

octal

number

Specifies that FCF9 is

a hexadecimal

string;
the characters
between the matching
delimiters are
converted to ASCII
representation

R3,

Floating point

“F3.0

°C

Complement

~Cc24

More than one unary operator can be applied
expression enclosed in angle brackets.
For

number

Produces an ASCII

R4,

and

value

Specifies that

floating-point

the

3.0 is a

number

Produces the 1's

complement value of
(decimal)

to a single term or to
example:

-+-A

This

construct

equivalent

to:

=<+<=A>>

3.6.1

Radix Control

Operators

VAX-11 MACRO accepts terms or expressions in four
different
radixes:
binary,
decimal,
octal,
and
hexadecimal.
The
default
radix
is
decimal.
Expressions must be enclosed in angle brackets.

3-11

THE COMPONENTS OF MACRO SOURCE STATEMENTS

Formats

“Bnn
“Dnn
“Onn
“Xnn
nn

A string of characters that are legal
in
the
specified
The legal characters for each radix are listed below.
Format

Radix

“Bnn

Name

Legal

Characters

Binary

0 and

“Dnn

Decimal

0 through 9

“Onn

Octal

0 through

“Xnn

Hexadecimal

0 through

9 and A through F

radix.

Radix control operators can
a
numeric
value is legal.

be included in the source program anywhere
A radix control operator affects only the
term or expression immediately following
it,
causing
that
term
or
expression to be evaluated in the specified radix.
example:

The

circumflex

it,

but

and tabs
radix.

cannot be

separated

the entire radix control

from the

term or

BINARY

ALL NUMBERS
ARE

from the

operator

expression

RADIX

DECIMAL RADIX
OCTAL RADIX

"B00001101
D123
"047
<A+7013>
"X<F1C3+FFFFF-20>

«WORD
.WORD
.WORD
.WORD
. LONG

For

that

IN OCTAL RADIX

(DEFAULT)

EXPRESSION

HEXADECIMAL

RADIX

X that

follows

can be separated by spaces
to

evaluated

that

The decimal operator, the default, is needed only within an expression
that
has
another
radix control operator.
1In the following example,
the 16 would be interpreted as an octal number if the "D operator
did

not

precede

it:

. LONG

3.6.2

Textual

“0<10000 + 100 + "D16>

Operators

The textual operators are
mask operator ("M).

the ASCII operator

("A)

and

the

3.6.2.1
ASCII Operator - The /ASCII
-operator
-<converts
a
string
of
Printable
characters
to their ‘8-bit ASCII values and stores them one
character to a byte.
The string of characters must be enclosed
in
a
pair of matching delimiters.
The delimiters can be any printable character except the
space,
tab,
semicolon
(;).
Although
alphanumeric characters can be used as
delimiters,
nonalphanumeric
-characters
-should
be
used
to
avoid
confusion.
or

THE COMPONENTS OF MACRO SOURCE STATEMENTS

Format

“Astring
string
A delimited
The delimited

the

operand.

ASCII

string

from

string must

For example,

not

through
be

larger

than

the

long.

data

type

if the "A operator occurs in an operand

a MOVW instruction (the data type is
cannot be more than two characters.

word),

the

delimited

string

example:

#$"A/ABCD/,R0O

#"A/XY/,RO

. QUAD
MOVL

"A%1234/678%
#$"A/AB/,RO

MOVES CHARACTERS A,B,C,D,
INTO RO RIGHT JUSTIFIED WITH

"A"

IN LOW-ORDER BYTE AND

"D"

RO; "A" IN LOW-ORDER BYTE; "B"
IN NEXT; AND ZERO THE 2 HIGHORDER

WE
MO

IN HIGH-ORDER BYTE
COMPARES X AND Y AS ASCII
CHARACTERS WITH CONTENTS OF LOW
ORDER 2 BYTES OF RO
GENERATES 8 BYTES OF ASCII DATA
MOVE ASCII CHARACTERS AB INTO

CMPW

MOVL

For

8 characters

BYTES

3.6.2.2
Register Mask Operator - The register mask operator
converts
a register name or a list of register names enclosed in angle brackets
into a 1- or 2-byte register mask.
The register mask is used
by
the
PUSHR
and
POPR instructions and the .ENTRY and .MASK directives (see
Chapter

5).

Formats

"Mreg-name
"M<reg-name-list>
reg-name

One of the

specifiers.

the

DV or

IV arithmetic

trap

enable

reg-name-list

A list of register names and/or the DV
enable specifiers, separated by commas.
The

and

arithmetic

trap

register mask operator sets a bit in the register mask
for
every
register
name
or
arithmetic trap enable specified in the list.
The
bits corresponding to each register name and
arithmetic
trap
enable
specifier are listed below.

3-13

THE

Name

RO through
R12

COMPONENTS

OF MACRO SOURCE

Arithmetic
Enable

STATEMENTS

Trap

Bits

R11l

through

(respectively)

When

the

mask

operator

wused

instruction,
RO
through R11l, R12 or AP,
The PC register
name
and
the
IV
and
specifiers cannot be specified.

FP,
DV

POPR

PUSHR

and SP can be specified.
arithmetic
trap
enable

When the register mask
operator
1is
wused
in
the
.ENTRY
or
.MASK
directives,
R2
through
Rll and the IV and DV arithmetic trap enable
specifiers can be specified.
However, RO, R1l, FP, SP, and
PC
cannot
be
specified.
IV
sets
the
integer overflow trap, and DV sets the
decimal string overflow trap.
See the VAX-11/780
Architecture
Handbook
for
more
register masks and arithmetic trap enable specifiers.

example:

RT1l, "M<R3,R4,R5,R6,IV>

# "M<RO,R1,R2,R3>

WNE

POPR

# "M<RO,R1,R2,R3>

PUSHR

WNe

.ENTRY

For

information

3.6.3

Numeric

Control

SAVE REGISTERS R3,R4
R5, AND R6 AND SET THE
INTEGER OVERFLOW TRAP
SAVE REGISTERS RO,R1,
R2, AND R3
RESTORE RO,R1,R2, AND R3

Operators

The numeric control operators are the floating-point operator
the complement operator (°C).

(°"F)

and

3.6.3.1
Floating Point Operator - The floating-point operator accepts
a floating-point number and converts it to its internal representation
(a 4-byte value).
This value can be used in any
expression.
VAX-11
MACRO does not perform floating-point expression evaluation.
Format

“"Fliteral
literal
A floating-point number

(see

Section

3.2.2).

The
floating-point
operator
is
useful
because
floating-point number in an instruction that accepts

$°F3.7,R0

MOVF

#3.7,R0O

MOVL

“o

example:

For

it
allows
integers.

3-14

NOTE THE RECOMMENDED INSTRUCTION
TO MOVE THIS FLOATING-POINT NUMBE:
IS THE MOVF INSTRUCTION

THE COMPONENTS OF MACRO SOURCE STATEMENTS

3.6.3.2
Complement Operator - The complement
1's complement of the specified value.

operator

produces

the

Format

“Cterm
term

Any term or expression.
be enclosed

If an expression is specified,

in angle brackets.

must

VAX-11 MACRO evaluates the term or expression as a 4-byte value before

complementing

3.7

PRODUCES FFFFFF00 (HEX)
PRODUCES COMPLEMENT OF
25 (DEC) WHICH IS
FFFFFFE6

“C"XFF
~“C25

. LONG
. LONG

example:

For

it.

(HEX)

BINARY OPERATORS

In contrast to unary operators, binary operators specifz actions to be
performed
on
two terms or expressions.
Expressions must be enclosed
in angle brackets.

Table

3-4 summarizes the binary operators.

Table 3-4
Binary Operators

Binary

Operator

Operator Name

Example

Operation

e
——

Plus

sign

A+B

Addition

Minus sign

A-B

Subtraction

Asterisk

A*B

Multiplication

Slash

A/B

Division

At sign

A@B

Arithmetic shift

Ampersand

A&B

Logical AND

Exclamation point

A!B

Logical inclusive OR

Backslash

A\B

Logical exclusive OR

All binary operators have equal priority.
Terms or expressions can be
grouped
for
evaluation
by
enclosing
them
in angle brackets.
The

enclosed terms and expressions are then evaluated first, and remaining
operations are performed from left to right.
. LONG
. LONG

1+2%3
1+<2*3>

;
;

3-15

For example:

EQUALS 9
EQUALS 7

THE

COMPONENTS

OF MACRO SOURCE

STATEMENTS

Note that a 4-byte result is returned from all binary operations.
If
a
1l-byte
or
2-byte
operand
is
used,
the result is the low-order
byte(s) of the 4-byte result.
VAX-11l MACRO displays an error
message

if the truncation causes a loss of

significance.

The following sections describe the
arithmetic
logical
inclusive
OR,
and
1logical
exclusive
detail.

3.7.1

Arithmetic

shift,

logical
AND,
OR operators in more

Shift Operator

The arithmetic shift operator (@) is used to perform
1left
and
right
arithmetic
shift
of
arithmetic
gquantities.
The first argument is
shifted left or right the number of bit
positions
specified
by
the
second
argument.
argument is shifted

If
the
second
argument
is
positive, the first
left;
'if the second
argument
is
negative,
the

first

argument
1is shifted right.
When the first argument is shifted
low-order bits are set to 0;
and when the first argqument is
shifted
right,
the
high-order
bits
are
set
to
the value of the
original high-order bit (the sign bit).
left,

"B101@4
l1e2

#<"B1100000@-5>,R0

. LONG

Logical

The

logical

For

example:

w >

3.7.2

“B1010
“B1100

"X1234@-A

Logical

(&)

takes

the

A&B

1010000 (BINARY)
100 (BINARY)
11 (BINARY)

YIELDS
YIELDS

10000 (BINARY)
123 (HEX)

logical

;

Inclusive

The logical inclusive
of two operands.
For

YIELDS
YIELDS
YIELDS

AND Operator

AND operator

. LONG

3.7.3

l1@Aa

MOVL

. LONG
. LONG

«e

example:

For

the

AND of

YIELDS

two operands.

1000 (BINARY)

OR Operator

OR operator

(!)

takes

the

logical

YIELDS

1110

inclusive

example:

A = "B1010
B = “B1100
.LONG

A!B

;

3-16

(BINARY)

THE COMPONENTS OF MACRO SOURCE STATEMENTS

3.7.4

Logical

Exclusive OR Operator

The logical exclusive OR operator
of

two

For

(\)

takes the logical

exclusive

arguments.

example:

A = "B1010
B = "B1100
. LONG

3.8

A\B

;

YIELDS

0110

(BINARY)

specific

DIRECT ASSIGNMENT STATEMENTS

A direct assignment statement equates

symbol

value.

Unlike
a
symbol
that
is
wused
as a label, a symbol defined with a
direct assignment statement can be redefined as many times as desired.
Formats

symbol=expression
symbol==expression
symbol
A user-defined

symbol.

expression

An expression that does not contain any
Section 3.5).

undefined

symbols
.

(see

The format with a single equal sign (=) defines a local symbol and
format
with
a
double
equal sign (==) defines a global symbol.
Section 3.3.3 for more information about local and global symbols.

The

following

three

syntactic

rules

apply

direct

the
See

assignment

statements:

An equal sign (=) or double equal sign (==) must separate
the
symbol
from
the
expression
defining
the
symbol's
value.
Spaces
preceding
and/or
following
the
direct
assignment
operators have no significance in the resulting value.

Only one symbol can be defined

in a single

direct

assignment

statement.

A direct assignment
comment field.

statement

can

followed

only

In addition, by DIGITAL convention, the symbol in a direct

statement is placed 'in the label
For

field.

s+ THE SYMBOL *“A'
; TO THE VALUE 1
; THE SYMBOL 'B'

B = A@5

127*10

E = <B/10>+A1-<C>

3-17

EQUATED

IS EQUATED

TO 1@5 OR 20 (HEX)"

THE SYMBOL

'C'

IS EQUATED

: THE SYMBOL

'D'

IS EQUATED

D = "X100/°X10

TO 1270 (DEC)

assignment

example:

A=1

C =

;

TO 10 (HEX)

THE SYMBOL ‘'E' IS EQUATED
TO <1270/10>+32-16

OR 143 (DECIMAL)

THE

3.9

COMPONENTS

MACRO SOURCE STATEMENTS

CURRENT LOCATION COUNTER

The period (.), the symbol for the current
1location
counter,
always
has
the
value of the address of the current byte.
VAX-11 MACRO sets
the current location counter to 0 at the beginning of the assembly and
at the beginning of each new program section.
Every

VAX-11

MACRO source

statement

that

allocates

memory

the

object
module increments the value of the current location counter by
the number of bytes allocated.
For example,
the
directive
.LONG
O
increments
the current location counter by 4, but a direct assignment
statement, except the special form described below, does not
increase
the current location counter because no memory is allocated.
The
of

current location counter
the
direct
assignment

can be explicitly set by a
special
form
statement.
The
1location counter can be

either incremented or decremented.
Explicitly
setting
the
1location
counter
is
often useful when defining data areas.
Data storage area
should not be reserved by explicitly
setting
the
1location
counter;
the .BLK directives should be used instead (see Chapter 5).
Format

.=expression

expression
An expression that does not
Section 3.5).

contain

any

undefined

symbols

(see

In a relocatable program section, the expression must be
relocatable;
that
1is, the expression must be relative to an address in the current
program section (it can be relative to the current location counter).
For

example:

,+40

MOVES LOCATION COUNTER

;

FORWARD

When a program section previously defined in
the
current
module
continued,
the
current
1location counter is set to the last value
the current location counter in that program section.

is
of

When the current location counter is used in the operand field
of
an
instruction, the current location counter has the value of the address
of that operand--it does not have the value
of
the
address
of
the
beginning
of
the instruction.
For this reason, the current location
counter is not normally used as a part of the operand specifier.

3-18

CHAPTER 4
ADDRESSING MODES

This chapter summarizes the VAX-11 addressing modes and contains
examples of VAX-11 MACRO statements that use these addressing modes.
The VAX-11/780 Architecture Handbook describes the addressing modes in
detail.

There are four types of addressing modes:
Register

General

Program Counter

Index

Branch

Although index mode is a general register mode, it is considered a
separate type of mode because it can be used only in combination with
another

type of mode.

Table 4-1 summarizes the addressing modes.

4.1

GENERAL REGISTER MODES

The general register modes use registers RO through R12, AP (the
as

R12),

FP,

and

SP.

There are eight general register modes:
e

Autoincrement

Autoincrement Deferred

Autodecrement

Displacement

Displacement Deferred

Literal

same

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ADDRESSING
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ADDRESSING MODES

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ADDRESSING

4-4

MODES

ADDRESSING MODES

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youeag

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4-5

ADDRESSING MODES

4.1.1

In register mode,
register,
except

field

operands,

concatenated

bytes
are

of
in

the

where

with

the

operand

operand
is
the
contents
quadword,
double-precision

for

operand

contents

are

n+l.

the

The

results

are

if SP is used
in
floating-point, or

the
specified
floating-point, or

contents
n+l.

and

The

the most

least

significant

unpredictable

mode
with
a
operand extending

field

significant

bytes
used

quadword,

into

PC.

Formats

AP
FP

SP
n

number

the

range

through

12.

Example

4.1.2
In

CLRB

CLRQ

TSTW

R10

INCL

operand.

Section

Deferred

deferred
Register

4.3).

;

CLEAR

LOWEST BYTE

;

CLEAR

;

TEST

LOWER

;

ADD

AND

OF RO

WORD

R10

Mode

mode,

the

deferred

mode

contains

¢an

the

used

address

with

index

LDATA

the

mode

(see

Formats

(Rn)
(AP)
(FP)
(SP)
n

number

the

range

through

12.

Example

10$:

4.1.3
In

MOVAL

LDATA,R3

CMPL

’

MOVE

(R3) ,RO

BEQL

;

10$

COMPARE

VALUE

ARE

CLRL

(R3)

MOVL

(SP) ,R1

MOVZBL

(AP) ,R4

Autoincrement

autoincrement

operand.

After

ADDRESS OF

THEY

THE

;

CLEAR

;

COPY TOP ITEM OF

GET

LDATA
SAME,

LONGWORD AT

NUMBER

IGNORE

LDATA

STACK

ARGUMENTS

INTO R1
IN

CALL

Mode

mode,

the
evaluating

the

contains
the
address
operand
address
contained
that address By
the
size

increments

the

contents

of
of

the

+the
the

ADDRESSING MODES

operand,

respectively.

byte,

word,

longword,

quadword

Autoincrement mode can be used with index mode (see Section 4.3), d but
in
specifie
register
the
as
same
the index register cannot be the
autoincrement mode.

Formats

+
(Rn)
+
{AP)
+
(FP)
+
(SP)
n

A number in the range of 0 through 12.

MOVAL
CLRQ
CLRL

TABLE,R1
(R1)+
+
(R1)

BYTARR,R2
+
(R2)
+
(R2)
(R5)
+,
(R4) +,
(R3)

we W6 we wo

MOVAB
INCB
INCB
XORL3

= we We We Wo W W N

Example

4.1.4

GET ADDRESS OF TABLE

CLEAR FIRST AND SECOND LONGWORDS
AND THIRD LONGWORD IN TABLE

LEAVE R1 POINTING TO TABLE +12

GET ADDRESS OF BYTARR

INCREMENT FIRST BYTE OF BYTARR

AND SECOND

; EXCLUSIVE-OR THE TWO LONGWORDS
WHOSE ADDRESSES ARE STORED IN
R3 AND R4 AND STORE RESULT IN
IN R5, THEN
ADDRESS CONTAINED;

ADD 4 TO R3, R4, AND R5

Autoincrement Deferred Mode

In autoincrement deferred mode, the register contains an address

that

increments

the

address

the

operand address (a pointer to the operand).

After evaluating the operand address,

the

processor

contents of the register by 4 (the size in bytes of an address).

Autoincrement deferred mode can be used with index mode (see Section
4.3), but the index register cannot be the same as the register
specified in autoincrement deferred mode.
Formats

@ (Rn)+
+
@ (AP)
Q(FP)+
@(spP)+
n

A number in the range of 0 through 12.

‘CLRB

@ (R2)+

WMo

PNTLIS,R2
@(R2)+

MOVAL
CLRQ

Example

GET ADDRESS OF POINTER LIST
CLEAR QUADWORD POINTED TO BY
FIRST ABSOLUTE ADDRESS IN PNTLIS
:
THEN ADD 4 TO R2

CLEAR BYTE POINTED TO BY SECOND,
ABSOLUTE ADDRESS IN PNTLIS
THEN ADD 4 TO R2

4-7

ADDRESSING

4.1.5

MOVE

“e

R10,@(RO) +

POINTED

MOVL

MODES

R10

LOCATION

WHOSE

RO;

THEN

ADDRESS

ADD

Autodecrement Mode

In autodecrement mode, the processor decrem
ents the
contents
of
the
register
by
the
size
of
the operand data type;
then the register
contains the address of the operand.
The
processor
decrements
the

operands,

respectively.

Autodecrement

the

index

mode

can

autodecrement

used

for

with

cannot

byte,

index

the

mode.

word,

mode

same

longword,

(see

the

Section

quadword

4.3),

but

specified

Formats

- (Rn)
- (AP)
= (FP)
-(SP)
n

number

the

range

through

12.

4.1.6

W
W
Wy

R1l,-(RO)

PUSH

CMPB

WHOSE

R3,-(SP)

QUADWORD

ONTO

MOVZBL

SUBTRACT

-(R1)

BYTE

CLRQ

Example

FROM

AND

ADDRESS

ZERO

R1
THE

ZERO-EXTENDED

ONTO
THE
OF

NOW

THE

STACK AS

LOW

STACK
1

FROM

WITH

BYTE

AND

BYTE

LONGWORD

COMPARE

WHOSE

THE

THEN

LOW
ADDRESS

Displacement Mode

In displacement mode, the sum of the
displacement
(sign
extended
to
a

contents

operand.

Displacement

mode

can be

used

with

of
longword)

index mode

the

the
the

(ste Secition 4.3).

Formats

dis (Rn)
dis (AP)
dis (FP)
dis (SP)
n

number

the

range

through

displacement;

12.

dis
An

expression

preceded

specifying

one

which
indicate
displacement.

the

following

number

4-8

the eXpression
can
be
displacement length specifiers,

bytes

needed

store

the

ADDRESSING MODES

Displacement

Length Specifier

Meaning

B”
Ww”
L

Displacement redquires 1 byte
Displacement requires 1 word (2 bytes)
Displacement requires 1 longword (4 bytes)

If no displacement length specified precedes the expression and
the value of the expression is known, the assembler chooses the
the
store
to
needed
4)
or
2,
(1,
smallest number of bytes
If no length specifier precedes the expression and
displacement.
1
the value of the expression is unknown, the assembler reserves
1if the
Note that
the displacement.
for
bytes)
(2
word
displacement is either relocatable or defined later in the source

If the actual
it unknown.
the assembler considers
program,
the linker
displacement does not fit in the memory reserved,
displays

error

message.

MovB

,R5
B"ACCOUNT(R3)

CLRW

L"STA(R1)

MOVL

RO,-2(R2)

TSTB

EXTRN(R3)

AS A

NE W

W
W

PLUS ADDRESS OF KEYWORDS
THE DISPLACEMENT IS STORED AS A BYTE
CLEAR WORD WHOSE ADDRESS
IS STA PLUS CONTENTS OF Rl
THE DISPLACEMENT IS STORED
LONGWORD

MOVE RO TO ADDRESS THAT IS -2

PLUS THE CONTENTS OF R2
THE DISPLACEMENT IS STORED AS A BYTE
TEST THE BYTE WHOSE ADDRESS

IS EXTRN PLUS THE
ADDRESS OF KEYWORDS

THE DISPLACEMENT IS STORED AS A WORD
SINCE EXTRN IS UNDEFINED
MOVE <CONTENTS OF R5> + 2
TO RO

W
WO

2(R5) ,RO

THE DISPLACEMENT IS STORED AS A BYTE
GET BYTE WHOSE ADDRESS IS ACCOUNT

MOVAB

GET ADDRESS OF KEYWORDS
GET BYTE WHOSE ADDRESS IS
I0 PLUS ADDRESS OF KEYWORDS

_We W

B"IO(R3) ,R4

KEYWORDS,R3

MOVB

MOVAB

"o N

Example

Note

If the value of the displacement is 0 and no displacement
is

specified,

the

length

assembler uses register deferred mode rather

than displacement mode.

4.1.7

Displacement Deferred Mode

In displacement deferred mode, the sum of the contents of the register
and the displacement {sign extended to a longword) is the address of
the operand address {a pointer to the operand).

Displacement deferred mode can be used with index
4.3).

4-9

mode

(see

Section

ADDRESSING

MODES

Formats

@dis (Rn)
@dis (AP)
@dis (FP)
@dis (SP)
n

A number

the

range

through

displacement;

12.

dis
An

expression

preceded

specifying

by one

which
indicate
displacement,

the

following

number

the

expression

displacement

bytes

length

needed

can

specifiers,

store

the

Displacement
Length

Specifier

Meaning

B®

Ww*

Displacement

requires

1 byte

Displacement

requires

1 longword

Displacement requires 1 word

(2 bytes)

(4 bytes)

If no displacement length specifier precedes the
expression
the
value
of
the expression is know, the assembler chooses

smallest number of bytes
(1,
2,
or
displacement.
If no length specifier
the

value

word

the

displacement
program,

expression

bytes)

the

for

either

the

unknown,

considers

displacement does not fit in
an error message.

displays

the

defined
it

to
store
the
expression and

assembler

displacement.

relocatable

assembler

4)
needed
precedes the

reserves

Note

that

later

the

the actual

unkndwn.

memory

and
the

reserved,

the

source

1linker

ARRPOINT,R6

@16 (R6)

MOVAL
CLRL

Example

MOVL

;

GET ADDRESS OF ARRAY OF

CLEAR

POINTERS

LONGWQRD POINTED TO BY
LONGWORD WHOSE ADDRESS IS 16
PLUS THE ADDRESS OF ARRPOINT

THE

@B OFFS(R6) ,@RSOFF (R6)

DISPLACEMENT

; MOVE

THE

STORED

NE WMo

284 (R2)

7 BY LONGWORD WHQSE ADDRESS IS

CLRW

4.1.8

BYTE

OFFS PLUS THE ADDRESS OF ARRPOINT
TO THE ADDRESS POINTED TO BY

LONGWORD WHOSE ADDRESS IS
PLUS THE ADDRESS OF ARRPOINT

RSOFFS

THE FIRST DISPLACEMENT IS STORED
AS A BYTE
THE SECOND DISPLACEMENT IS STGRED AS A WOR

CLEAR THE WORD THA? IS POINTED
TO BY LONGWORD AT 84 PLUS THE

CONTENTS OF R24-THE ASSEMBLER USES
BYTE DISPLACEMENT AUTOMATICALLY

Literal Mode

In literal mode,

mode

LONGWORD POINTED

byte

itself.

Formats

#literal
S"#literal

the value of the literal

is stored in the

addressing

ADDRESSING MODES

literal
An

expression,

integer

constant,

or a

floating-point

constant.

‘Phe
literal
must
fit
in
the
short
1literal
form.
That is,
integers must be in the range of 0 through 63 and
floating-point
constants
must
be
one
of
the
64 values listed in Table 4-2,
Floating-point short literals are stored with
a
3-bit
exponent
and
a
3-bit
fraction.
Table
4-2 also shows the value of the
exponent and the fraction
for
each
1literal.
See
the
VAX-11l
Architecture
Handbook
for
information
on
the format of short
literals.

Table 4-2
Point Short

Floating

Literals

Fraction

., 0.5]

0.5625]

0,625}

0.6875}

0.75|

0.8125|

0.875

0.9375

1.00

1.125 | 1.25

1.37

1.5

1.625

1.75

1.875

2.0]

2.25

2.75

3.0

3.25

3.5

Exponent

2.5

3
4
5

4.0|
4.5
8.0{
9.0
16.0]18.0

5.0
10.0
20.0

5.5
11.0
22.0

6.0
6.5
12.0 | 13.0
24.0
26.0

7.0
14.0
28.0

6
7

32.0]136.0
64.0]72.0

40.0
80.0

J44.0
88.0

48.0 | 52.0
96.0 |104.0

56.0
112.0

3.75
7.5
15.0
30.0

60.0
120.0

Example
MOVL

#1,R0

;
;

MOVB

S”#CR,R1

RO IS SET TO 1; THE 1 IS STORED
IN THE INSTRUCTION AS A SHORT

;

LITERAL

;
;

THE LOW BYTE OF Rl
TO THE VALUE €R

IS SET

; CR IS STORED IN THE INSTRUCTION

MOVF

;

IF CR

SHORT

LITERAL

;
;

R6 IS SET TO THE FLOATING
POINT VALUE 0.625; IT IS STOREfi

IS NOT

IN RANGE 0-63,

: THE'LINKER PRODUCES A TRUNCATION
; ERROR

#0.625,R6

;

LITERAL FORM

THE

FLOATING

POINT SHORT

Notes

When the #literal
whether

4.2,4),

use

format

used,

The assembler uses immediate

following eonditions are met:

the

assembler

litefal mode or immediate mode

mode

chooses

(see Section

4ny

the

The value¢
of the literal does not f£it in the short literal
form

The literal is a relocatabld or external
Seetion 3,5)

The litéfal
symbols

expression

that

expression

ceontains

(see

undefined

ADDRESSING MODES

The

difference

amount

between

storage

immediate

that

instruction.

The

S"#literal

format

mode

and

store

takes

forces

the

literal mode
the literal

assembler

is
in

the
the

use

1literal

In relative mode, the address specified is the address of the
The assembler stores the address as a displacement from PC.

operand.

mode.

4.2

The

PROGRAM COUNTER MODES

program counter

There

are

five

Relative

Absolute

Immediate

General

Relative

mode

use

program counter

4,2.1

modes

for

general

modes:

Deferred

Mode

can

used

with

index

mode

(see

Section

4.3).

Format

address
address

expression

preceded

specifying
one

which
indicate
displacement,

the

address;

following

number

the

expression

displacement

bytes

length

needed

can

specifiers,

store

the

Displacement
Length

Specifier

Meaning

B®
wt
L”
If

Displacement requires 1 byte
Displacement requires 1”7 word (2 bytes)
Displacement requires 1 longword (4 bytes)

displacement

expression

and

assembler

chooses

the

length
value

specifier
of

the

precedes

expression

the
is

smallest

number
of
bytes
(1,
needed
to
store
the
displacement.
If
no
1length
precedes the address expression and the value of
the

(see

unknown,

the

assembler

uses

the

the default

description of .DEFAULT in Chapter
expression
is
either defined later in the

another

unknown,

program

section,

the

assembler

address

known,

or
4)
specifier
expression

displacement

5).

program

the
or

considers

the

length
address

defined

the

value

ADDRESSING MODES

DISPLACEMENT

PREVIOUSLY DEFINED
COMPARE

“wo
e

GET LONGWORD AT LABEL; THE
ASSEMBLER USES DEFAULT

W <DATA+4> ,R10

WMe

CMPL

LABEL,R1

MOVL

Example

4.2.2

R10

UNLESS
WITH

LABEL

THIS

SECTION

LONGWORD AT

ADDRESS DATA+4;
THE ASSEMBLER
USES A WORD DISPLACEMENT

Relative Deferred Mode

In relative deferred mode, the address specified is the address of the
operand
address (a pointer to the operand).
The assembler stores the
address

specified as a displacement

from

PC.

Relative deferred mode can be used with index mode

(see Section 4.3).

Format

@Qaddress
address

An expression specifying
an
address;
the
expression
can
be
preceded
by one of the following displacement length specifiers,
which
indicate
the
number
of
bytes
needed
to
store
the
displacement.

Displacement
Length

Specifier

B”
w”
L®

Meaning

Displacement
Displacement
Displacement

requires
requires
requires

1 byte
1 word (2 bytes)
1 longword (4 bytes)

If
no
displacement
1length
specifier
precedes
expression
and
the
wvalue
of
the
expression
assembler chooses the smallest number
of
bytes

the
address
1is
known,
the
(1,
2,
or
4)

needed
to
store
the
displacement.
If
no
length
specifier
precedes the address expression and the value of
the
expression
is
unknown,
the
assembler uses the default displacement length
(see

the description of

.DEFAULT

in Chapter

5).

the

address

expression
1is
either defined later in the program or defined in
another
program
section,
the
assembler
considers
the
value
unknown.

Example

CLRL

INCB

@W” PNTR

@L"COUNTS+4

;

LONGWORD AT PNTR;

;

USES

;
;

4,2.3

CLEAR LONGWORD POINTED TO BY

;

A WORD

THE ASSEMBLER

DISPLACEMENT

INCREMENT BYTE POINTED TO BY

LONGWORD AT COUNTS+4; ASSEMBLER
USES A LONGWORD DISPLACEMENT

Absolute Mode

In absolute mode, the address specified is the address of the operand.
The address is stored as an absolute virtual address (compare relative
mode, where the address is stored as a displacement from PC).

ADDRESSING

Absolute

mode

can

used

with

MODES

index mode

(see

Section

4.3).

Format

@Q#address
address
An

expression

specifying

address.

Example

CLRL

Q@#ACCOUNT

4.2.4

#3,@#SYSSFAO

THE CONTENTS OF LOCATION
THE CONTENTS OF LOCATION
ACCOUNT; THE ADDRESS IS STORED
ABSOLUTELY,

CALLS

CLEAR

1100 (HEX)

CLEAR

CALL

@$#°X1100

CLRB

THREE

THE

NOT

PROCEDURE

ARGUMENTS

DISPLACEMENT

SYSS$FAO
THE

WITH

STACK

specified

is the operand.

constant,

the literal

SET

In immediate mode,

STORED

Immediate Mode

THE LOW BYTE OF Rl

Formats

#literal

I"#literal
literal
An expression,

integer

floating-point

constant.

Exdmple
MOVL

#1000,RO

MOVB

TO
R6

§$BAR,R1

POINT VALUE

0.1;

FLOATING

1000

SET

4-BYTE

STORED

POINT

VALUE (IT CAN NOT BE
REPRESENTED AS A SHORT LITERAL)
THE

1“$5,R0

AS A

STORED

IN A

LONGWORD

BECAUSE THE 1~ FORCES THE
ASSEMBLER TO USE IMMEDIATE MODE;

ADDL2

OPERAND

THE VALUE OF BAR
IS SET TO THE FLOATING

#0.1,R6

THE

LONGWORD

MOVF

1000;

IN A

Notes
l.

When the #literal
whether
to
use
mode,

1If

the

format
1literal

literal

is
wused,
the
mode
(Section
an

integer

floating-point
constant that fits
the assembler uses
1literal
mode.
eXpression,
the
assembler
uses

from

assembler
chooses
4.1.8) or immediate
0

through

the short literal form,
If
the
1literal
1is
an
1literal
mode
if
all the

following conditions are met:
e

The

expression

The expression contains no undefined symbols

The value

all

cases,

other

the

absolute

expression
the

fits

assembler

4-14

uses

the

short

immediate

literal
mode.

form

ADDRESSING MODES

The difference between immediate mode and literal mode is the
amount
of
storage
required
to
store
the
1literal in the
instruction.
The assembler stores an immediate mode
1literal
in

byte,

word,

longword depending on the operand

data

type.

The I"#literal

format forces the assembler to

use

immediate

mode.

4.2.5

General

Mode

In general mode, the address specified is the address of the
operand.
The linker converts the addressing mode to either relative or absolute

mode.
If the address
to
relative
mode.

is relocatable, the linker converts general mode
If
the address is absolute, the linker converts
general mode
to
absolute
mode.
General
mode
is
used
to
write
position-independent
code
when
the programmer does not know whether
the address is relocatable or absolute.
A
general
addressing
mode
operand

requires

bytes of

storage.

General mode can be used with index mode

(see Section 4.3).

Format

G"address
address

expression

specifying

address.

Example

¢
CLEARS THE LONGWORD AT LABEL_1
IF LABEL 1 IS DEFINED AS ABSOLUTE

G“LABEL_l

CLRL

THEN THIS IS CONVERTED TO ABSOLUTE

MODE;

W
N

CALLS

#5,G"SYS$SERVICE

;
;

4.3

RELOCATABLE,

DEFINED AS

THEN THIS IS CONVERTED

TO RELATIVE MODE

CALLS PROCEDURE SYS$SERVICE

WITH

ARGUMENTS ON STACK

INDEX MODE

Index mode

is a general

mode

that

can

wused

only

combination
with
another
mode, called the base mode.
The base mode
can be any addressing mode except register, immediate, literal, index,
or
branch.
The
assembler
first evaluates the base mode to get the
base address.
Then the assembler adds the base address to the product
of
the
<contents of the index register and the number of bytes of the
operand data type.
This sum is the operand address.
Combining
following

index mode with the
addressing modes:

Deferred

Autoincrement

Autoincrement Deferred

Autodecrement

other

Index

4-15

addressing

modes

produces

the

ADDRESSING MODES

The

Displacement

Index

Displacement

Deferred

Relative

Relative Deferred

Absolute

General

process

index

Index

Index
Index

first

evaluating

the

same

for

the

base

each of

mode

and

then

adding

the

these modes.

Formats

base-mode
[Rx]
base-mode
[AP]
base-mode
[FP]
base-mode
[SP]
base-mode

Any addressing mode except register, immediate,
or branch, specifying the base address.

A number
register.
Table

4-3

lists

t%e

the

range

formats

through

index

12,

mode

1literal,

specifying

the

addressing.

Examples
i

;

DEFERRED

INDEX

MODE
“e
"
We

SET

CLEAR
IS

BLIST

BYTE WHOSE ADDRESS
ADDRESS

BLIST

PLUS 20*1
CLEAR QUADWORD WHOSE
ADDRESS

CLEAR WORD WHOSE ADDRESS
IS

20*2;

ADDRESS

W9
WMe

THE

(R9) [R1]

INDEX

BLIST

THE

PLUS

ADDRESS

20%*8

AUTOINCREMENT

INDEX

MODE

CLRQ

#0OFFS,R1
(R9) [R1]

OFFS

MOVL
CLRB

DEFINE

GET ADDRESS

BLIST,R9

MOVAB

OFFS=20

WME

(R9)+([R1]

ADDRESS

BLIST

PLUS

NOW CONTAINS
OF

BLIST+2

AUTOINCREMENT

DEFERRED

INDEX

MODE

W
W

@(R8) +[R2]

SET

CLEAR WORD WHOSE ADDRESS

INDEX

CLRW

GET ADDRESS

$#30,R2

STORED

POINT,R8

CONTAINS

MOVAL

MOVL

“o

CLRW

30*2

PLUS

POINT

THE ADDRESS

IN POINT;
4

PLUS

NOW

ADDRESS

index,

index

ADDRESSING MODES

’

DISPLACEMENT DEFERRED INDEX MODE
ADDARR,R9

MOVL

$100,R1

@40 (R9) [R1]

SET UP INDEX REGISTER
TEST FLOATING POINT VALUE

WHOSE ADDRESS IS 100*4 PLUS

®e

TSTF

GET ADDRESS OF ADDRESS ARRAY

MOVAL

’

THE ADDRESS STORED AT (ADDARR+40)

Table

4-3

Index Mode Addressing

Format*

Mode

F=============================F==================fl

(Rn) [Rx]

Autoincrement Index

(Rn) +[Rx]

Autoincrement Deferred

@(Rn)+[§x]

Autodecrement Index

-(Rn) [Rx]

Displacement Index

dis (Rn) [Rx]

Displacement Deferred

@dis (Rn) [Rx]

Index

Relative Index

address [Rx]

Relative Deferred Index

@address [Rx]

Absolute Index

@#address[Rx]

General Index

G"address [Rx]

Key:

Any general register RO through R12 or the AP, FP,
register.

Any general register RO through R12 or the AP, FP,

Rx cannot be the same register as Rn in the
register.
autoincrement deferred index,
autoincrement index,

decrement index addressing modes.
dis

An expression specifying a displacement.

address

An expression specifying an address.

4-17

ADDRESSING

MODES

Notes

1.,

If
the
base
mode
alters
the
contents
of
its
register
(autoincrement,
autoincrement
deferred, and autodecrement),
the index mode cannot specify the same register.

The

index

register is added to the
address
after
the
base
1is completely evaluated.
For example, in autoincrement
deferred index mode, the base register contains
the
address

mode

of the operand address.
The index register (times the length
of the operand data type) is added
to
the
operand
address
rather than to the address stored in the base register.

4.4

BRANCH MODE

In branch mode, the address is stored as an implied displacement
PC.
This
mode
can
only
be
used
in
branch
instructions.
displacement
for
conditional
branch
instructions
and
the

instruction
instruction

range

is
stored
is stored in

127

bytes

in
a
a word

The
BRB

byte.
The
displacement
for the BRW
(2 bytes).
A byte displacement allows

forward

displacement allows a range of
backward.
The
displacement

from

and

128

32767 bytes
is relative

past the byte or word where
the
VAX-11/780 Architecture Handbook

bytes

backward.

forward
and
to the updated

displacement
1is
stored.
for more
information
on

‘instructions.

See
the
the branch

Format

address
address
An

expression

that

represents

address.

N9
we

LABEL

CODES

BRW

LABEL1

TOTAL
BRANCH

BLEQ

(R1)+,R0,TOTAL

LESS

Example
ADDL3

BRANCH

VALUES
TO

THAN

AND

LABEL1l

SET
IF

EQUAL

CONDITION
RESULT

UNCONDITIONALLY

word

32768
bytes
PC, the byte

0
TO

LABEL

CHAPTER

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

The general assembler directives provide facilities for performing
eleven different types of functions. Table 5-1 lists these types of
functions and the directives that fall under them. The remainder of
this chapter describes the directives in detail, showing their formats
For ease of reference, the
and giving examples of their |use.
directives are presented in alphabetical order. 1In addition, Appendix
B contains a summary of all assembler directives.
Table

5-1

Summary of General Assembler Directives
Category
Listing Control
Directives

Directives*
. SHOW
. NOSHOW
.TITLE

.SUBTITLE

(.LIST)
(.NLIST)
(.SBTTL)

« IDENT
- PAGE

Message Display
Directives

. PRINT
.WARN

Assembler Option
Directives

.ENABLE
.DISABLE

Data Storage
Directives

.BYTE
.WORD

« ERROR

(.ENABL)
(.DSABL)

.DEFAULT

. LONG
.ADDRESS
. QUAD

. PACKED
.ASCII
.ASCIC
.ASCID

.ASCIZ
. FLOAT
.DOUBLE
.SIGNED BYTE

.SIGNED_WORD

The alternate form,

if any, is given in parentheses.
(continued on next page)

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

Summary

Table 5-1 (Cont.)
General Assembler

Category

Directives

Directives*

w
Location Control
Directives

.ALIGN
. EVEN
.ODD
. BLKA

«BLKB
« BLKD
. BLKF
«BLKL
«BLKQ
« BLKW
«END

Program

. PSECT

Sectioning
Directives

.SAVE PSECT
-RESTORE_PSECT

Symbol Control
Directives
Directives

.GLOBAL
.EXTERNAL
.DEBUG

(.SAVE)
(.RESTORE)

(.GLOBL)
(.EXTRN)

-WEAK

Routine Entry
Definition
Directives

Point

.ENTRY
. TRANSFER
-MASK

Conditional
and Subconditional
Assembly
Block Directives

.IF
. ENDC
.IF FALSE
.IF TRUE

.IF TRUE FALSE
LIIF
-

Cross-Reference

(. IFF)
(. IFT)

(.IFTF)

.CROSS

Directives

-NOCROSS

Instruction
Generation

.OPDEF
.REF1

Directives

«REF2
.REF4

-REFS8

The

alternate

form,

any,

S 5-2

given

in parentheses.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.ADDRESS
+ADDRESS

-- ADDRESS

STORAGE

DIRECTIVE

.ADDRESS stores
successive
longwords
containing
addresses
in
the
object
module.
DIGITAL recommends that .ADDRESS rather than .LONG be
used for storing address data to provide additional information to the
linker.
In
shareable
1images,
addresses
must
be
specified
with
.ADDRESS to produce position-independent code.
Format

.ADDRESS address-list
Parameter

address-list

A list of symbols
or
expressions,
separated
by
commas,
that
VAX-11 MACRO interprets as addresses.
Repetition factors are not
allowed.
Example
TABLE:

.ADDRESS

LAB 4,LAB 3,ROUTTERM

;

REFERENCE

TABLE

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

ALIGN
+ALIGN --

LOCATION COUNTER ALIGNMENT DIRECTIVE

-ALIGN aligns
an integer or

the location counter
a keyword.

the boundary specified

by either

Formats

.ALIGN
.ALIGN

integer[,expression]
keyword|[,expression}

Parameters

integer

An integer in the range of
aligned at an address that
of the integer.

0 through 9.
The location counter
is
is a multiple of 2 raised to the power

keyword

One of five keywords that specify the
alignment
location
counter
is
aligned
to
an
address
multiple of the values listed below.
Keyword

Size

(in

BYTE
WORD
LONG

20 =
271 =
272 =

1
2
4

279 =

512

QUAD

boundary.
that is the

The
next

Bytes)

2°3 =8

PAGE

expression

Specifies the
£fill
value
to
be
stored
expression
must not contain any undefined
absolute expression (see Section 3.5).

in
each
byte.
symbols and must

The
an

Example
.ALIGN

BYTE,O

;

BYTE

.ALIGN

WORD

;

WORD ALIGNMENT

JALIGN

3,°aA/ /

.ALIGN

PAGE

ALIGNMENT-FILL

WITH

NULL

QUAD ALIGNMENT-FILL WITH BLANKS
PAGE

ALIGNMENT

Notes

The alignment specified in .ALIGN cannot exceed the alignment
of
the
program
section in which the alignment is attempted
(see the description of .PSECT).
For example, if the default
program
section alignment (BYTE) is being used and .ALIGN is
specified with a WORD
or
larger
alignment,
the
assembler
displays an error message.

1If the optional expression is supplied, the bytes skipped
by
the
1location
counter
(if any) are filled with the value of
that expression.
Otherwise, the bytes are zero filled.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

Although most instructions do not require any data
alignment
other than byte alignment, execution speed is improved by the
following alignments:
Data

Length

Word
Longword
Quadword

Alignment
Word
Longword
Quadword

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

LASCIx
ASCIx

-- ASCII

VAX-11

CHARACTER STORAGE DIRECTIVES

MACRO has

four

ASCII

character

storage directives:

Directive

Function

ASCII

ASCIC

Counted

ASCID
ASCIZ

String-descriptor ASCII string storage
Zero-terminated ASCII string storage

string

storage

ASCII

string

storage

Each directive is followed by a string of
characters
enclosed
in
a
pair
of
matching
delimiters.
The
delimiters can be any printable
character except the space, tab, equal sign
(=),
semicolon
(;),
or
left
angle
bracket
(<).
The character used as the delimiter cannot
appear in the string itself.
Alphanumeric characters can be
used
as
delimiters;
however,
nonalphanumeric
characters
should be used to
avoid confusion.
Any
character
characters
can
convert
ASCII

8-bit
byte.

except
appear

lowercase

character

ASCII

the
null,
carriage
within
the
string.

alphabetic

storage

value

characters

directives

convert

(see Appendix A)

and

return,
and
form
feed
The assembler does not

uppercase.
the

characters

store them one

+to

character

their

Any character, including the
null
carriage
return,
and
form
feed
characters, can also be represented by an expression enclosed in angle
brackets outside of
the
delimiters.
The
ASCII
character
storage

directives

store

the

8-bit binary value

specified by the expression.

ASCII strings can be continued over several lines but
the
string
on
each
1line
must be delimited at both ends;
however, a different pair
of delimiters can be used for each line.
For example:
CR=13
LF=10

.ASCII

/ABC DEFG/

.ASCIZ
.ASCIC
JASCII

@Any character can be delimitere@
? lowercase is not converted to UPPER?
? this is a test!?XCR>KLF>!Isn't it?!

.ASCII
.ASCII

\ Angle Brackets <are part <of> this> string \
/ This string is continued / \ on the next line \
<CR>XLF>! this string includes an expression! -

+ASCII

<128+CR>?

whose

value

The following sections describe
each
storage directives, giving the formats

of
and

13 plus

128?

the
four
ASCII
examples of each.

character

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.ASCII
.ASCII -- ASCII STRING STORAGE DIRECTIVE

LASCII stores in the next available byte the ASCII value of each
character in the ASCII string or the value of each byte expression.
Format

.ASCII stging
Parameter

string

A delimited ASCII string.
Example
CR=13
LF=10

.ASCII

"DATE:

17-NOV-1977"

/EOF/<CR><LF>

.ASCIC
+ASCIC -- COUNTED ASCII STRING STORAGE DIRECTIVE

.ASCIC performs the

inserts

function

same

.ASCII,

except

that

The

length

given

includes

any

because

the

count

indicates

the

The count byte contains

outside

the delimited string but

the length of the string in bytes.

bytes

.ASCIC

a count byte before the string data.
nonprintable

excludes the count byte.

characters

.ASCIC is useful in copying

text

length of the text to be copied.
Format

.ASCIC

string

Parameter

string

A delimited ASCII string.
Example

#HELLO#<CR>

.BYTE

#HELLO#<CR>

.ASCII

.ASCIC

“o

" CR=13

THIS COUNTED ASCII STRING
IS EQUIVALENT TO
COUNT

THE

FOLLOWED BY THE ASCII STRING

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.ASCID
+ASCID

-ASCID

performs

string

STRING-DESCRIPTOR ASCII

The

string
information,
3)
in

the

descriptor

same

function

before

the

STRING
as

STORAGE

ASCII,

string

DIRECTIVE

except

that

.ASCID

descriptor

consists
of
1)
two
bytes
of
two bytes that specify the length of the

inserts

data.

descriptor
string, and

longword that points to the string.
String descriptors are
used
calling
procedures (see Appendix C of the VAX-11/780 Architecture

Handbook)
.

Format
.ASCID

string

Parameter

string
A delimited ASCII

string.

Example
FOR CALL/
/SECOND ARGUMENT/

STRING

/ARGUMENT

ANOTHER

PUSHAL

DESCR1

PUSHAL

DESCR2

CALLS

#2,STRNG_PROC

.ASCID

PUT

.ASCID

DESCR2:

“e

DESCR1:

CALL

DESCRIPTOR

ONE

ADDRESS

THE

DESCRIPTORS

STACK

PROCEDURE

.ASCIZ
+ASCIZ

«.ASCIZ

performs

appends

list

need

ZERO-TERMINATED ASCII

null

text

only

determine

the

same

byte

string

perform

the

end of

the

STORAGE

DIRECTIVE

function
as
.ASCII,
except
that
.ASCIZ
final character of the string.
Thus, when

created

STRING

for

with

the

.ASCIZ

null

directive,

character

string.

the

last

CHARACTERS

STRING

Format
.ASCIZ

string

Parameter

string
A delimited

ASCII

string.

Example

Wy
e

/A/<FF>/B/

.ASCIZ

/ABCDEF/

FF=12

.ASCIZ

user

byte

7 BYTES OF DATA
3 CHARACTERS IN STRINGS
4 BYTES OF DATA

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.BLKXx
.BLKx -- BLOCK STORAGE ALLOCATION DIRECTIVES

VAX-11 MACRO has seven block storage directives:
Function

Directive

(longwords)

.BLKA

Reserves storage for addresses

.BLKB

Reserves storage for byte data

.BLKD

Reserves storage for double-precision,

.BLKF

Reserves storage for single-precision,

.BLKL

Reserves storage for longword data

.BLKQ

Reserves storage for quadword data

.BLKW

Reserves storage for word data

floating-point data

(quadwords)

(longwords)

The value
Each directive reserves storage for a different data type.
VAX-11
which
for
items
data
of
number
the
determines
expression
of the
4
For example, .BLKL 4 reserves storage for
MACRO reserves storage.
data.
of
bytes
2
for
storage
reserves
2
.BLKB
longwords of data and
The total number of bytes reserved is equal to the length of the
type times the value of the expression as follows:
Directive

Number of Bytes Allocated

.BLKB

Value of expression

« BLKW

2 * yvalue of expression

.BLKA

.BLKF

data

4 * yalue of expression

« BLKL

+BLKD

8 * value of expression

.BLKQ
Formats

.BLKA
.BLKB
.BLKD
.BLKF
.BLKL
.BLKQ
.BLKW

expression
expression
expression
expression
expression
expression
expression

Parameter

expression

An expression specifying the amount of storage to
be
allocated.
All
the
symbols
in
the
expression must
be
defined and the

expression must be an absolute expression (see Section 3.5).
the expression is omitted, a default value of 1 is assumed.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

« BLKL
. BLKF

<3*4>

« BLKQ

.BLKB

Example
SPACE

SPACE
SPACE
SPACE

FOR

BYTES

FOR 3 QUADWORDS (24 BYTES)
FOR 1 LONGWORD (4 BYTES)
FOR 12 SINGLE PRECISION
FLOATING-POINT VALUES (48 BYTES)

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.BYTE
-~ BYTE STORAGE DIRECTIVE

.BYTE

.BYTE generates successive bytes of binary data in the object module.
Forma t

.BYTE expression-list
-

Parameter
expre ssion-list

is
Each expression
One or more expressions separated by commas.
Then the value of each
first evaluated as a longword expression.
expression
The value of each
expression is truncated to 1 byte.
should

in the range of 0 through 255 for unsigned data or in

the range of -128 through +128 for signed data.

Each expression optionally can be followed by a repetition factor
by a
followed
expression
An
brackets.
square
by
delimited
format:
the
has
factor
repetition
expressionl[expression2]
expre ssionl

An expression that specifies the value to be stored.
[expr ession2]

will
value
An expression that specifies the number of times the
undefined
any
contain
not
must
expression
The
repeated.
be
3.5).
Section
(see
expression
symbols and must be an absolute
required.
are
The square brackets
Example

.BYTE

<1024-1000>*2
0

X,X+3[5*4],%

"XA,FIF,10,65-<21*3>
‘

.BYTE

STORES A VALUE OF 48
STORES 4 BYTES OF DATA
STORES 1 BYTE OF DATA
STORES 22 BYTES OF DATA

Notes

The assembler displays an error message if the
bytes

high-order

of the longword expression has a value other than 0 or

“XFFFFFF.

At link time, a relocatable expression can result in a
that

exceeds

1 byte.

a truncation diagnostic message

.BYTE

RELOCATABLE VALUE A WILL

CAUSE VAX-11 LINKER TRUNCATION
DIAGNOSTIC IF THE STATEMENT
HAS A VIRTUAL ADDRESS OF 256

OR ABOVE

For example:

question.

value

the VAX-11l Linker issues
in
module
object
the
for

In this case,

5-11

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

The

.SIGNED BYTE directive

assembler

displays

range

129

from

-SIGNED_BYTE

for

255

the

same

diagnostic
is

specified.

information.

.BYTE

message

See

the

except

a value in
description

the
the
of

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.CROSS
.NOCROSS

.CROSS AND .NOCROSS -- CROSS-REFERENCE DIRECTIVES

‘'VAX-11
MACRO
produces
a
cross-reference
1listing
when
the
CROSS
qualifier
is specified in the MACRO command.
The .CROSS and .NOCROSS
directives control which symbols are included in
the
cross-reference

listing.
The
.CROSS and .NOCROSS directives have an effect only if
/CROSS was specified in the MACRO command (see the VAX-11 MACRO User's
Guide).

By default, the cross-reference listing includes
the
definition
and
all the references to every symbol in the module.
The cross-reference
listing can be disabled for all symbols or for
a
specified
1list
of
symbols.

.NOCROSS without a symbol list disables the cross-reference listing of
all
symbols.
.CROSS
without
a
symbol
list
reenables
the
cross-reference listing.
Any
symbol
definition
or
reference
that
appears
after
.NOCROSS
without
a
symbol
1list and before the next
.CROSS without a symbol list is
excluded
from
the
<cross
reference
listing.

1listing
.NOCROSS with a symbol list disables the cross-reference
the
listed
symbols.
.CROSS
with
a
symbol
1list
reenables

cross-reference listing of

the listed symbols.

for
the

Formats
.CROSS

.CROSS symbol-list
.NOCROSS

.NOCROSS symbol-list

Parameter

symbol-list

A list of legal

symbol names separated by commas.

Examples

LAB1l:

. NOCROSS
MOVL
.CROSS

LOC1l,LOC2

:
;
;

STOP CROSS REFERENCE
COPY DATA
REENABLE CROSS REFERENCE

The definition of LABl and the references to LOCl
included in the cross reference listing.
LAB2:

.NOCROSS

LOC1

;

.CROSS

LOC1

;

MOVL

LOC1,LOC2

;

and

LOC2

are

not

DO NOT CROSS REFERENCE LOCl
COPY DATA

REENABLE CROSS REFERENCE

LOC1

The definition of LAB2 and the reference to LOC2 are included
in
the
cross
reference,
but
the
reference
to LOCl is not included in the
cross

reference.

5-13

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

Notes

.CROSS

without

cross-reference

with

symbol

1listing

1list

will

symbol

list.

If the cross-reference listing
.CROSS
with
a
symbol
1list

cross-reference

symbol

listing

1list.

5~14

not
reenable
the
specified in .NOCROSS

of all
symbols
is
disabled,
will
have no effect until the
reenabled
by
.CROSS
without
a

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.DEBUG
.DEBUG -- DEBUG SYMBOL ATTRIBUTE DIRECTIVE

.DEBUG specifies that the symbols in the list are made known to the
During an interactive debugging session, these symbols can
debugger.
be used to refer to memory locations or to examine the values assigned
to the symbols.
Format

.DEBUG symbol-list
Parameter

symbol-list

A list of legal symbols separated by commas.
Example

Note

INPUT,OUTPUT,
LAB_30,LAB_40

.DEBUG

MAKE THESE SYMBOLS KNOWN
TO THE DEBUGGER

list to the symbol
The assembler adds the symbols in the symbol mmer
need not specify
The progra
table in the object module.
global symbols
e
becaus
ive
direct
global symbols in the .DEBUG
table. See
symbol
's
module
object
the
in
put
are
y
ticall
automa
information
making
on
ation
inform
the description of .ENABLE for
about all symbols available to the debugger.

5-15

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.DEFAULT
« DEFAULT

-DEFAULT

determines

and

DEFAULT CONTROL DIRECTIVE

relative

the

deferred

default

displacement

addressing

modes

(see

length

for

Sections

the

4.2.1

and

relative

4.2.2),

Format
.DEFAULT

DISPLACEMENT,

keyword

Parameter

keyword
One

three

keywords--BYTE,

displacement

WORD,

length.

LONG--indicating

the

default

Example
.DEFAULT

DISPLACEMENT,WORD

MOVL

LABEL

LONG

ASSEMBLER

WME

@COUNTS+4

INCB

DISPLACEMENT,
LONG

Notes

IS DEFAULT
ASSEMBLER USES WORD
DISPLACEMENT UNLESS

.DEFAULT

WORD

LABEL,R1

HAS

BEEN

DEFINED

DEFAULT

USES LONGWORD
DISPLACEMENT UNLESS
COUNTS HAS BEEN DEFINED

.DEFAULT has
no
effect
on
the
default
displacement
displacement
and displacement deferred addressing modes
Sections 4.1.6 and 4.1.7).

there

displacement

.DEFAULT

length

source

longword.

module,

the

for
(see

default

.DISABLE
«DISABLE

-DISABLE

See

the

FUNCTION

disables,

CONTROL

description

DIRECTIVE

inhibits,

.ENABLE

the

for

specified

assembler

information.

functions.

Format
.DISABLE

argument-list

Parameter
argument-list

One or more
description

the

of
symbolic

the
specified,

they

symbolic arguments listed in Table 5-2
in
the
(ENABLE.
Either the long form or the short form
arguments can be used.
IFf multiple arguments are
must be separated by commas, spaces, or
tabs.

Note

The

alternate

form of

.DISABLE

5-16

.DSABL.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.DOUBLE
.DOUBLE -- FLOATING POINT STORAGE DIRECTIVE

.DOUBLE evaluates the specified floating-point

constants

stores

and

.DOUBLE generates 64-bit,
in the object module.
results
the
of sign, 8 bits of
bit
(1
data
-point
floating
,
double-precision
exponent, and 55 bits of fraction). See the description of .FLOAT for
information on storing single precision floating point numbers.

Format

.DOUBLE literal-list
Parameter

literal-list

The
A list of floating-point constants (see Section 3.2.2) .
except
operators
binary
or
unary
any
contain
constants cannot
unary plus or unary minus.

.DOUBLE

1.
2.

10,

15,

0.5

CONSTANT
LIST

.DOUBLE 1000,1.0E3,1.0000000E-9
.DOUBLE 3.1415928, 1.107153423828

Example

Double precision floating point numbers are

They are not effected by .ENABLE TRUNCATION.

always

rounded.

The floating point constants in the literal 1list must not
preceded by the floating point operator ("F).

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.ENABLE
+-ENABLE

-ENABLE

enables

negative

form,

FUNCTION CONTROL DIRECTIVE
the

specified

.DISABLE,

Creating

Making
all
enabling the

Specifying
references.

local

Truncating

assembly

control

label

the

1local
symbols
available
traceback feature.
that

wundefined

rounding

Suppressing

the

referenced.
@

Specifying

that

listing

all

.ENABLE

assembler

and

its

functions.

blocks.

symbol

numbers.
®

function.

following

the

references

single-precision,

symbols

references

debugger

that

are

and

external

floating-point

defined

but

not

absolute

not

relative.

1listed

Table

Format
.ENABLE

argument-list

Parameter

argument-~list

One

Either
can

the

symbolic

form or

used.

multiple

commas,

the long

arguments

spaces,

the

are

arguments

short

specified,

Long

Form

ABSOLUTE

the

symbolic

they must

5-2.

arguments

separated

tabs.

Table
-ENABLE

form of

and

.DISABLE

5-2
Symbolic

Arguments

Default
Short

AMA

Form

Condition

Disabled

Function

When

ABSOLUTE

enabled,

all

PC relative addressing
modes are assembled as
absolute
DEBUG

DBG

Disabled

When

addressing

DEBUG

local symbols
in the object
symbol

the

table

enabled,

all

are included
module's
for

use

debugger.

(continued

modes.

page)

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

Table

.ENABLE and

5-2

(Cont.)

.DISABLE Symbolic Arguments

Default
Long

Form

GLOBAL

Short

Form

GBL

Condition

Function

Enabled

When GLOBAL is enabled,
all undefined symbols are
considered external
When GLOBAL is
symbols.
disabled, any undefined
symbol that is not listed
in a .EXTERNAL directive
causes

LOCAL_BLOCK

LSB

Disabled

an assembly error.

When LOCAL BLOCK is

enabled, the current local

label block is ended and a
When
new one is started.
LOCAL BLOCK is disabled,
the current local label
See
block is ended.
Section 3.4 for a complete
description of local label
blocks.

SUPPRESSION

SUP

Disabled

When SUPPRESSION is
enabled, all symbols that
are defined but not
referred to are not listed
When
in the symbol table.
SUPPRESSION is disabled,
all symbols that are
defined are listed in the
symbol

TRACEBACK

TBK

Enabled

table.

When TRACEBACK is enabled,
the program section names
and lengths, module names,
and

routine names are

the

debugger.

included in the object
module for use by the
When TRACEBACK
debugger.
is disabled, VAX-11 MACRO
excludes this information
and, in addition, does not
make any local symbol
information available to

TRUNCATION

FPT

Disabled

When TRUNCATION is
enabled, floating-point
numbers are truncated.
When TRUNCATION is
disabled, floating-point
numbers are rounded.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

o
We

TRUNCATION,TRACEBACK

ASSEMBLE

-e

GLOBAL

UNDEFINED

ROUND

DO NOT

.DISABLE

ABSOLUTE,

.ENABLE

Example

alternate

form of

.ENABLE

ADDRESS

MODE.

REFERENCES

ARE

FLOATING-POINT

MODE

GLOBAL

NUMBERS.
PUT ANY DEBUGGING
INFORMATION INTO OBJECT MODULE

Note

The

RELATIVE ADDRESS

ABSOLUTE

.ENABL.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.END
.END -- ASSEMBLY TERMINATION DIRECTIVE

.END terminates the source program. No additional text should occur
beyond this point in the current source file or in any additional
If any
source files specified in the command line for this assembly.
message
error
an
displays
assembler
the
occur,
does
text
additional
and ignores the text. The additional text does not appear in either
the listing file or the object file.
Format

<END

[symbol]

Parameter

symbol

(called

The address

execution is to begin.

the

transfer

address)

program

which

Example

.ENTRY
.

START,O

.END

START

; ENTRY MASK
; MAIN PROGRAM

section

that

has

The transfer address must be in a program

When an executable image consisting of séveral object modules
is 1linked, only one object module should be terminated by an
.END directive that specifies a transfer address. All other
object modules should be terminated by .END directives that
If an executable image
do not specify a transfer address.
contains more than one
or
address
transfer
no
either contains

the EXE attribute

transfer

address,

(see the description of .PSECT).

the

VAX-11

Linker

displays

error

message.

If the source program contains an unterminated conditional
block when the .END directive 1is specified, the
code
assembler

displays an error message.

.ENDC
.ENDC -~ END CONDITIONAL DIRECTIVE

.ENDC terminates the

description of
Format
. ENDC

conditional

range

started

.IF for more information and examples.

.IF.

See

the

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.ENTRY
+-ENTRY -- ENTRY DIRECTIVE

.ENTRY defines a symbolic
name
register
save mask (2 bytes) at

global

counter

symbol

with a value equal to the
.ENTRY directive.
The entry

the

transfer address of the program.
determine
which
registers
are

These

saved

returns

registers

are

control

procedure

call

for
an
entry
that location.

point

and
symbol

The

value

point

can

stores
a
is defined

the
be

1location

used

the

The register save mask
is
used
to
saved before the procedure is called.

automatically

restored

when

the

procedure

to
the calling program.
See the description of the
instructions in the VAX-11/780 Architecture Handbook.

Format
«ENTRY symbol ,expression

Parameter
symbol

The

symbolic

name

for

the

entry point.

expression

The register save mask for the entry point.
be
an
absolute
expression
and
must not
symbols.

The expression
must
contain any undefined

Example

CALC, "M<R2,R3,R7>

The register
setting
the
3.6.2.2).

STARTS
2,3,7

Notes

PROCEDURE
REGISTERS

PRESERVED

®e

Wwe

.ENTRY

RET

HERE.
ARE

BY CALL AND
INSTRUCTIONS

mask operator ("M)
is
convenient
bits
in
the
register
save mask

to
use
for
(see Section

assembly error occurs if the expression has bits o, 1,
13
set.
These bits correspond to the registers RO,
AP, and FP and are reserved for the CALL interface.
or

DIGITAL recommends

that

.ENTRY be

used

entry
points
including the transfer
Although the following construct also

its use

is discouraged:

symbol::
Although

.WORD

procedure

called,
the
registers and

to define
address
defines

all

12,
Rl,

callable

the program.
entry point,

expression
starting

with

entry
mask
is
not
the symbol cannot be

this

construct

checked
used in a

can

for
any illegal
.MASK directive.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.ENTRY should be used only for procedures that will be called
A routine that is entered
by the CALLS or CALLG instruction.
.ENTRY because
by the BSB or JSB instruction should not use
These
these instructions do not expect a register save mask.
routines should begin in the following format:
symbol::

first instruction

The first instruction of the routine immediately follows
symbol.

the

GERERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.ERROR
«ERROR --ERROR

ERROR DIRECTIVE

causes

terminal

the

batch

assembler

log

file

and

display

the

error

listing

file

message

(if

there

.ERROR

the

one).

Format
.ERROR

[expression]

;

comment

Parameters

expression
An

expression whose

during
;

value

assembly.

displayed

when

encountered

comment

that

assembly.

The

displayed

comment

when

must

.ERROR

preceded

encountered

during

semicolon.

Example
.IF

DEFINED

LONG‘MESS

«IF

GREATER

lOOO-WORK_AREA

-ERROR

;

NEED

LARGER WORK_AREA

. ENDC
« ENDC

If the symbol
value of 1000

LONG_MESS

less,

$MACRO-E-GENERR,

the

defined

and if the symbol WORK_AREA
has
following error message is displayed:

Generated

ERROR:

NEED

LARGER WORK_AREA

Notes

.ERROR, .WARN,
directives.
indicating

set

that

and .PRINT
They
can

a macro call

coenditions

(see

macre calls).

When

the

total

assembly is

number

are
called
the
message
display
be
uséd
to
display
information
contains an error

Chapter

finished,

errors

and

the

warnings

for

the

1If

and

included

in a

maéro

library

illegal

displays

sequence

warnings.

-ERROR is

information on

assembler
and

of the lines causing the errors or warnings on
See
the
VAX-1l1
MACRO User"s Guide for moré
errors

the

numbers

the
terminal.
information on

(see

the

VAX-11

MACRO
User's
Guide),
the
comment
should
end
with
an
additional semicolon. ©Otherwise, the
librarian
will
strip
the
comment
from the directive and it will not be displayed
when the macro is called.
4.

The
the

line contaihing
listihg file.

the

.ERROR directive

If the expression has a value of

the

error message.

5-24

is not

included

not

‘displayed

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.EVEN
.EVEN -- EVEN LOCATION COUNTER ALIGNMENT DIRECTIVE

.EVEN ensures that the current value of the location counter

adding

already even,

the

current value is odd.

no action is taken.

even

If the current value is

Format

.EVEN

.EXTERNAL
.EXTERNAL -- EXTERNAL SYMBOL ATTRIBUTE DIRECTIVE

.EXTERNAL indicates that specified symbols are external; that is, the
symbols are defined in another object module and cannot be defined
until link time

(see Section 3.3.3).

Format

.EXTERNAL symbol-list
Parameter

symbol-list

A list of legal symbols separated by commas.
Example

. EXTERNAL

SIN,TAN,COS

SINH,COSH,TANH

; THESE SYMBOLS ARE DEFINED IN
; EXTERNALLY ASSEMBLED MODULES

Notes

If the GLOBAL arqument is enabled (see Table 5-2 in the
description of .ENABLE), all unresolved references will be
marked as global and external. Thus, if GLOBAL 1is endbled,
However, if
the programmer need not specify .EXTERNAL.
GLOBAL is disabled, the programmer must explicitly specify
.EXTERNAL, to declare any symbols that are defined externally
but referred to in the currént module.

If GLOBAL is disabled and the assembler

finds

symbols

that

are not defined in the currént module and are not listed in a
.EXTERNAL directive, the assembler displays an error message.

The alternate form of .EXTERNAL is .EXTRN.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.FLOAT
«FLOAT

-FLOAT

evaluates

results

FLOATING-POINT
the

specified

the

object

single-precision,
exponent,
and
description of
floating-point

STORAGE

DIRECTIVE

floating-point

module.

constants

. FLOAT

and

stores

generates

the

32-bit,

floating-point data
(1
bit
of
sign,
8
bits
of
23
bits
of
fractional
significance).
See
the
.DOUBLE for
information
on
storing
double-precision

numbers.

Format

.FLOAT

literal-list

Parameter

literal-list
A list

floating-point

constants

cannot

unary

and

plus

constants

contain

unary

any

(see

unary

Section
binary

3.2.2).

operators

minus.

The
except

Example
.FLOAT

134.5782,74218.34E20

+FLOAT

134.2,0.1342E3,1342E-1

+FLOAT
.FLOAT

-0.75,1E38,-1.0E-37
0,25,50

;

SINGLE

;

THESE

;

DATA

;

LIST

PRECISION
ALL

GENERATE

134.2

Notes

See the description of .ENABLE for information
floating-point rounding or truncation.

The

floating

preceded

point
the

constants

floating

point

5-26

the
unary

literal

list

operator

specifying

must

(°F).

not

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.GLOBAL
«.GLOBAL -~ GLOBAL SYMBOL ATTRIBUTE DIRECTIVE

names are either globally
.GLOBAL indicates that specified symbol
defined 1in the current module or externally defined in another module
(see

Section

3.3.3).

Format

.GLOBAL symbol-list
Parameter

symbol-list

A list of legal

symbol names separated by commas.

Example

.GLOBAL LAB_40,LAB_30

; MAKE THESE SYMBOL NAMES

.GLOBAL UKN_13

; TO ALL LINKED MODULES

GLOBALLY KNOWN

Notes

DIGITAL
.GLOBAL is provided for MACRO-11 compatibility only.
that global definitions be specified by a double
recommends
and
3.8)
colon or double equals sign (see Section 2.2.1 and
by .EXTERNAL (when
specified
references be
external
that
necessary).

The alternate form of

.GLOBAL is

5-27

.GLOBL.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

JADENT
«IDENT

- IDENT

provides

IDERTIFICATION DIRECTIVE

identification

means

identifying

addition

the

object

module.

name assigned

module with .TITLE.
A character string can be specified
label
the object module.
This string is printed in the

listing

file

as well

appearing

the object module.

This

the object

in .IDENT
to
header of the

Format

. IDENT

string

Parameter

string
A

1- to 1l5-character string that identifies the module, such as a
string
that
specifies
a
version
number.
The string must be
delimited.
The delimiters can be any paired printing characters,
other

long

than

string

the
1left
delimiting

the

angle bracket (<)
character is not

itself.

or the semicolon (:), as
contained
in
the
text

Example
.IDENT

The

character

/3-47/

string

3-47

included

VERSION AND

the

object

EDIT

NUMBERS

module.

Notes

If one

source

directive
part

the

module

given

contains

establishes

object module

the

than

one

character

.IDENT,

the

string

1last

that

forms

identification.

1If the delimiting characters do not match, or if
an
delimiting character is used, the assembler displays
message.

illegal
an error

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

AF
~

«IF -- CONDITIONAL ASSEMBLY BLOCK DIRECTIVES

A conditional assembly block is a series of source statements that
is
assembled
only
if
a
certain
condition
is
met.
.IF
starts the
conditional block and .ENDC ends the conditional block.
Each .IF must
have
a
corresponding
.ENDC.
The .IF directive contains a condition
test and one or
two
arguments.
The
condition
test
specified
Iis
applied
to the argument(s).
If the test is met, all MACRO statements
between .IF and .ENDC are assembled.
If the
test
1is
not
met,
the
statements
are
not
assembled.
An
exception
to
this occurs when
subconditional directives are
used
(see
the
description
of
.IF_x
directive).

Conditional blocks can be nested, that is a conditional block
<can
be
inside
of
another conditional block.
1In this case the statements in
the inner conditional block are assembled only if the condition is met
for

both

the

outer

and

inner

block.

Format

.IF condition argument
(s)

«ENDC
Parameters

condition

A specified condition that must be met if
the
block
1is
to
be
included
in
the
assembly.
Table 5«3 lists the conditions that
can be
tested
by
the
conditional
assembly
directives.
The
condition
space, or

must
tab.

separated

from

the

argument(s)

comma,

argument
(s)

The
symbolic
argument(s)
or
expression(s)
of
the
specified
conditional
test,
If
the argument is an expression, it cannot
contain any undefined symbols and must be an absolute
expression
(see

Section

3.5).

range

The block of source code

that

is conditionally

assembly.

5-29

included

the

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

Table

Condition

Tests

for

5-3

Conditional

Assembly

Complement

Test

Condition Test

Argument Type

Number

Directives

of | Condition

that

Arguments | Assembles Block
—{

Long

Short | Long

Short

Form

EQUAL

NOT_EQUAL

Expression

0
GREATER

LESS_EQUAL

Expression

(or

not

equal

Expression

greater

than 0 (or less
or egqual to 0)
LESS_THAN

GREATER_EQUAL

Expression

than

less

than 0 (or greater
than or equal to 0)
DEFINED

NOT

DEFINED

NDF

Symbolic

Symbol

defined

(or

not defined)

BLANK*

NOT BLANK*

Macro

Argument

IDENTICAL*

IDN

BIFFERENT*

DIF

Macro

Arguments

nonblank)

blank

(or

are

identical (or
different)

*
The BLANK, NOT BLANK, IDENTICAL, and DIFFERENT conditions are
only
useful
in macro definitions.
Chapter 6 describes macro directives in
detail.

Examples
example

.IF

EQUAL

conditional

ALPHA+1

assembly directive

ASSEMBLE

BLOCK

IF ALPHA+1=0

NOT ASSEMBLE

« ENDC

Nested

conditional

. IF

condition,argument
(s)
condition,argument
(s)

.IF

directives

« ENDC
. ENDC

5-30

take

the

is:

form:

IF ALPHA+1l

NOT=0

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

The

following

assembly
.IF
.IF

DEFINED
DEFINED

conditional

directives

to occur:

can

govern

whether

SYM1
SYM2

. ENDC
. ENDC

In this example, if the
outermost
condition
is
not
satisfied,
no
deeper level of evaluation of nested conditional statements within the
program occurs.
Therefore, both SYM1 and SYM2 must be defined for the
code

to be assembled.

Notes

.ENDC occurs outside a

assembler

displays

an error

assembly

block,

the

message.

VAX-1ll MACRO permits
a
nesting
depth
of
31
conditional
assembly
levels.
If
a
statement
attempts to exceed this
nesting level depth,

conditional

the assembler displays an error message.

The assembler displays an error message if .IF specifies
any
of the following:
a condition test other than those in Table
5-3, an illegal argument, or a null argument specified in
an
.IF directive.

The .SHOW and .NOSHOW directives
control
whether
condition
blocks
that
are
not
assembled are included in the listing
file.

5-31

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

JF_Xx
«IF_x

—-

VAX-11

SUBCONDITIONAL ASSEMBLY BLOCK

MACRO has

three

subconditional

DIRECTIVES

assembly

Directive

block

directives:

Function

.IF_FALSE

If the

condition

the

assehbly

false,
the
program is to include
following the .IF FALSE directive

.IF_TRUE

to the next subconditional

end

the

conditional

condition

the
program
following the

to the next

of
-IF_TRUE_FALSE

the

Always

assembly

subconditional

include

block

the
and

tests

directive or

source

the

code

true,

source
code
continuing up

assembly block.

the

tests

source code
continuing

block.

is
to
include
.IF TRUE directive

conditional

block

directive or

assembly

the

the
and

the end

following

the

.IF_TRUE FALSE
directive and continuing up to the
next subconditional directive or to the end of the
conditional
assembly
block.
This source code
included regardless of whether
the
condition
the assembly block tests true or false.

The

implied

is
of

argument

test
specified
conditional
or
assembly
block
in the block is

of a subconditional directive
is
the
condition
when
the
conditional assembly block was entered.
A
subconditional
directive
in
a
nested
conditional
is not evaluated if the preceding (or outer) condition
not satisfied (see examples 3 and 4 below).

A conditional
a
nested
the inner

directive

block with a subconditional directive is different
than
conditional block.
1If the condition in the .IF is not met,
conditional block(s) are not assembled, but a subconditional

can cause

a block

to be

assembled.

Formats
.IF_FALSE

. IF_TRUE
. IF_TRUE_FALSE

Examples

Assume

SYM

defined:

SYM

DEFINED

symbol

TESTS

“-e

. IF

that

ASSEMBLES

;

TESTS

.IF

;

ASSEMBLE

.IF_TRUE

5-32

SINCE
THE

FALSE

WAS

TESTS

ASSEMBLES

THE

TRUE.

SYM

FOLLOWING

SINCE

TRUE.

- IF_FALSE

TRUE

-e

SYM

CODE.

PREVIOUS
NOT

FOLLOWING

THE

DEFINED.

CODE.

DEFINED.

FOLLOWING

CODE.

FOLLOWING

TRUE.

SYM

CODE

“wo

UNCONDITIONALLY.

TESTS

.IF_TRUE

ASSEMBLES

.IF_TRUE_FALSE

-y

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

DEFINED.

CONDITIONAL ASSEMBLY BLOCK.

REMAINDER

. ENDC

TESTS

.IF_TRUE

symbol

TESTS

.IF_FALSE

that

DEFINED.

and

TESTS

DEFINED

defined

DEFINED.

DEFINED

.IF

ASSEMBLES

“§

.IF

TESTS

symbol

DEFINED.

that

DOES

Assume

CODE.

TRUE.
FALSE.
TRUE.

SYMBOL

FALSE.

defined:

DEFINED.

SYMBOL

THE

not

Y
Y

IS
IS

FOLLOWING

SYMBOL

NOT ASSEMBLE

THE

NOT
NOT

CODE.

NOT

FOLLOWING

« ENDC

defined

.IF_FALSE

.IF

NOT_DEFINED

that

symbol

and

TESTS

ASSEMBLES

TRUE.

THE

FALSE.

not

defined:

DEFINED.

FOLLOWING

“wo

TESTS

DEFINED

symbol

NOT ASSEMBLE

.IF

that

NESTED

CONDITIONAL

Assume

NOT

EVALUATED.

defined

but

symbol

THE

CODE.

DEFINED.

DOES

FOLLOWING

CODE.

DIRECTIVE

. ENDC

.IF_FALSE

TESTS

DEFINED.

FALSE.

DOES

FOLLOWING

NOT ASSEMBLE

NESTED

CONDITIONAL

EVALUATED.

NOT

NESTED

DIRECTIVE

defined:

SYMBOL

WMo

not

DEFINED

.IF

DEFINED

symbol

.IF

that

Assume

. ENDC

NOT

THE

CODE.
DIRECTIVE

SUBCONDITIONAL

NOT

EVALUATED.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

-IF_TRUE
.

;

NESTED

;

DIRECTIVE

SUBCONDITIONAL
IS

NOT

EVALUATED.

conditional

«ENDC
. ENDC

subconditional

assembly block,

The

the

alternate

.IF_TRUE_FALSE

directive

appears outside

assembler

displays

forms
are

.IFF,

.IF_FALSE,

.IFT,

and

5-34

.IFTF.

error

message.

.IF_TRUE,

and

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

AIF
«IIF

—--

IMMEDIATE

CONDITIONAL ASSEMBLY BLOCK DIRECTIVE

.IIF provides a means
of
writing
a
one-line
conditional
assembly
block.
The condition to be tested and the conditional assembly block
are
expressed
completely
within
the
1line
containing
the
.IIF
directive;
no terminating .ENDC statement is required.
Format

.IIF condition

argument(s),

statement

Parameters

condition
One of
blocks
must

the
in

legal
Table

condition tests defined for
5-3 (See the description of

separated

from the

argument(s)

conditional assembly
.IF).
The condition
comma,

space,

tab.

argument
(s)

The argument associated with the immediate conditional directive;
that
1is,
an expression or symbolic argument (described in Table
5-3).
If the argument is an expression, it
cannot
contain
any
undefined symbols and must be an absolute expression (see Section
3.3.3).
The argument
(s) must be separated from the statement
by
a

comma.

statement

The

statement

assembled

the

condition

satisfied.

Example

Condition
.IIF

Argument

DEFINED

EXAM,

Statement
BEQL

This directive generates the following
defined within the source program:
BEQL

ALPHA

code

the

symbol

EXAM

ALPHA

Note

The assembler displays an error message if .IIF specifies any
of
the following:
a condition test other than those listed in Table
5-3, an illegal argument, or a null argument.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

LIST
+LIST -- LISTING DIRECTIVE

.LIST is equivalent
more information.

the

.SHOW.

See

the

description

.SHOW

for

Formats

. LIST
.LIST argument-list
Parameter

argument-list

One or more of the symbolic argument defined in Table 5-7
description
of .SHOW.
Either the long form or the short
the arguments can be used.
1If multiple arguments are
they must be separated by commas, spaces, or tabs.

5-36

in
the
form of

specified,

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.LONG
« LONG

LONGWORD STORAGE

.LONG generates

DIRECTIVE

successive

longwords

data

the

object

module.

Format

.LONG expression-list
Parameters

expression-list

One or more
optionally
sguare

expressions separated
by
commas.
Each
expression
can
be
followed by a repetition factor delimited by

brackets.

An expression

followed

by a

repetition

factor

has

the

format:

expressionl [expression2]
expressionl
An expression

that

specifies

the

value

stored.

[expression2]
An expression that specifies the number of times the
value
will
be
repeated.
The
expression
must
not
contain any undefined
symbols and must be an absolute
expression
(see
Section
3.5).
The square brackets are required.

LAB 3, "X7FFFFFFF,
“XF@4

.LONG

0[22]

A'ABCD'

.LONG
.LONG

LONGWORDS OF DATA

LAB_3:

LONGWORD

Example

DATA

LONGWORDS

DATA

that

Note

Each expression in the
represented in 32 bits.

1list

must

have

value

can

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.MASK
«MASK

—-= MASK

+-MASK

reserves

DIRECTIVE

word

for

See
the
description
example of .MASK.

save

.TRANSFER

for

mask

for

transfer

information

and

vector.

for

Format

.MASK

symbol [,expression]

Parameters

symbo 1

A symbol

defined

.ENTRY directive.

expre ssion

A register

save mask.

Notes

If .MASK does not contain an expression,
the
assembler
directs
the
1linker to copy the register save mask specified in .ENTRY to
the word reserved by .MASK.

.MASK contains an expression,

the assembler directs the linker

to
combine this expression with the register save mask specified
in .ENTRY and store the result in the
word
reserved
by
.MASK.
The linker performs an inclusive OR operation to combine the mask
in
the
entry
point
and
the
value
of
the
expression.
Consequently,

specified

either

be included in the combined mask.
See
for more information on entry masks.

the

.ENTRY or

.MASK will

description of

.ENTRY

.NLIST
+«NLIST

LISTING DIRECTIVE

.NLIST is equivalent
information.

.NOSHOW.

See

the

description

.SHOW

for

Formats
«NLIST

.NLIST argument-list

Parameter

argument-list
One

description

the

symbolic

.SHOW.

arguments

Either

the

listed

long

form or

Table

the

the arguments can be used.
If multiple arguments are
they must be separated by commas, spaces, or tabs.

5-38

5-7

short

the

form of

specified,

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.NOCROSS
.NOCROSS -- CROSS REFERENCE DIRECTIVE

VAX-11 MACRO produces a cross-reference listing when the CROSS
qualifier is specified in the MACRO command. The .CROSS and .NOCROSS
directives control which symbols are included in the cross-reference

listing.

.CROSS.

The description of .NOCROSS is included with the description

.NOSHOW
.NOSHOW -- LISTING DIRECTIVE

.NOSHOW specifies listing control options.
.SHOW for more information.

See

the

description

Formats
. SHOW

.SHOW argument-list

‘Parameter
argument-list

One or more of the symbolic arguments listed in Table 5-7 in the
description of .SHOW. Either the long form or the short form of
the arguments can be used. If multiple arguments are specified,
they must be separated by commas, spaces, or tabs.

.ODD
.ODD -~ ODD LOCATION COUNTER ALIGNMENT DIRECTIVE

.ODD ensures that the current value of the location counter is odd by
adding 1 if the current value is even. If the current value is
already odd,

no action is taken.

Format
.ODD

5-39

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.OPDEF
«OPDEF

~-- OPCODE

-OPDEF defines

table.

The

permanent

opcode

DEFINITION DIRECTIVE

an opcode, which it
assembler
searches

symbol

name

table.

create

This

new

inserts

this

into a user-defined

table

directive

before

can

redefine

opcode
searches the

one.

existing

Format

.OPDEF

opcode

value,operand-descriptor-list

Parameters
opcode

ASCII

can

string

through

Z;
not

the
characters

the digits

underline

should

specifying

delimiters.

(),
_

dollar

start

with

name

long

and

through
sign

a digit

the

can

and

($),

and

opcode.
contain

the

should

The
string
the letters A

special

period

not

(.).

characters
The

string

surrounded

opcode.

The

value
An

expression

absolute

that

must

specifies

not

expression

(hexadecimal

must

contain

(see

FFFF).

the

any

value
of
the
undefined values

Section
the

3.5).
of
0

range

and

must

The

value
of
through decimal

the

65535

operand-descriptor-list

A list of
operands

allowed

operand
and

the

descriptors
type

list.

each.

Table

5-4

tnat

specifies

the

number

descriptors

are

lists

the

operand

operand descriptors.

Table 5-4
Operand Descriptors

Data
Access

Byte

Word

Type

Long-

Floating|

Double

word

Point

Floating | word

Quad-

Point
Address

Read-only

Modify

Write-only

Field

vVQ

Branch

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES
Examples

.OPDEF

.OPDEF
.OPDEF

.OPDEF

MOVL3

DIVF2
MOVC5

CALL

“XFFA9,RL,ML,WL

;
;

: DEFINES AN

INSTRUCTION,

MOVL3, WHICH USES

THE RESERVED OPCODE

FF.

; REDEFINES THE DIVF2 AND
“X46 ,RF,MF
; MOVC5 INSTRUCTIONS.
*+
“X2C,RW,AB,AB,RW,AB

~“X10,BB

:+ EQUIVALENT TO A BSBB

Notes

(see the
A macro can also be used to redefine an opcode
Note that the macro
.MACRO in Chapter 6).
description of
name table is searched before the user-defined opcode table.

1in
.OPDEF is useful
execute user-written

that
instructions
"custom"
creating
Note that DIGITAL does not
microcode.

This
support or provide tools for wuser-written microcode.
directive is supplied to allow programmers who have developed
tools and written microcode to execute their microcode in a
MACRO program.

to
The operand descriptors are specified in a format similar
the operand specifier notation described in the VAX-11/780
The first character specifies the
Architecture Handbook.
operand access type and the second character specifies the
operand

data

type.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.PACKED
« PACKED -- PACKED DECIMAL STRING STORAGE
- PACKED generates

packed

decimal

data,

DIRECTIVE
2

digits

per

byte.

Packed

decimal
data
is
wuseful
in
calculations
requiring exact accuracy.
Packed decimal data is operated on by the decimal string instructions.
See
the
VAX-11/780 Architecture Handbook for more information on the
format of packed decimal data.
Format

+PACKED decimal-string[,symbol]
Parameters

decimal-string
A decimal

number from 0 through
g%g?é).Each digit can be in the

31 digits long with
an
optional
range of 0.through 9 (see Section

symbol

An optional
number

symbol
decimal

that

digits

assigned
in

the

digit.

value

string.

The

equivalent

sign

counted

not

the

Example

. PACKED -12,PACK_SIZE
- PACKED

+500

.PACKED

0
-O,SUM_SIZE

PACKED

«PAGE

.PAGE

forces

PAGE

EJECTION

new page

printed

in the

listing.

VAX-11

MACRO

ignores

operation
describes
Format
. PAGE

;

PACK_SIZE GETS VALUE OF

SUM_SIZE

GETS

VALUE

DIRECTIVE

the

.PAGE

is
performed
only
macro directives and

listing;

the

macro

directive

itself

definition.

during
macro
expansion.
facilities in detail.

The

not

paging

Chapter

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.PRINT
« PRINT -- ASSEMBLY MESSAGE DIRECTIVE

.PRINT causes the assembler to display an informational message.
The
message
consists
of
the
value
of
the
expression and the comment
the
on
The message is displayed
specified in the .PRINT directive.
The
terminal for interactive jobs and in the log file for batch jobs.

message produced by .PRINT is

not

considered

error

warning

message.

Format

.PRINT

[expression]

;comment

Parameters

expression

An expression whose value is displayed when .PRINT is encountered
during assembly.
comment

A comment that is displayed when
assembly.

.PRINT

encountered

during

The comment must be preceded by a semicolon.

Example

.PRINT

;

THE SINE ROUTINE HAS BEEN CHANGED

Notes

the message display
.PRINT, .ERROR, and .WARN are called
information
to display
used
can be
They
directives.
illegal
indicating that a macro call contains an error or an
6 for more information on
Chapter
(See
conditions
of
set
macro calls).

VAX-11
the
(see
library
If .PRINT is included in a macro
an
the comment should end with
Guide),
User's
MACRO
be
will
the comment
Otherwise,
semicolon.
additional
stripped

the macro

from

the

directive and will not be displayed when

is called.

If the expression has a value of 0, it is not displayed
the

message.

5-43

with

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.PSECT
« PSECT

PROGRAM

.PSECT defines

SECTIONING

a program section

program

section

once

Program

sections

can

used

Develop

Separate

Allow

Protect

read-only

Identify

sections

See

the

When
name,

Control

the

memory

attributes

assembler
section

attributes,

includes all

and

data and

modules
data

to
and

the

which

User's

access

object

If
of

module

program

for

instructions

new

the

that

the assembler encounters
a
previously
defined

being

the

modified

debugger

sections

are

stored

information

program

that

and

program section.

follow the

specifies

section

instructions

data

from

.PSECT directive

creates

alignment

same

instructions

Guide

the

that program section until it
encounters
another
The
assembler
starts
all
program sections at a

relocatable

refers

from data

encounters

name,

and

programs

order

MACRO

its

to:

instructions

virtual

and

defined.

sections.

the

program

modular

different

VAX-1l

program

DIRECTIVE

using

stores

The

1in

new
the

assembler

.PSECT directive in
.PSECT
directive.
location counter of

a .PSECT directive that specifies the name
»>rogram section, it stores the new data or

that they lcgically

the

1last

entry

the

previously
defined
program
section.
Specifically,
the
1location
counter is set to the value of the location counter at the end of
the
previously
defined program section.
The programmer need not list the
attributes when continuing a program section but any
attributes
that
are listed must be the same as those previously listed for the program
section.

The
assembler
automatically
absolute
program
section and
Any

symbol

-PSECT

definitions

directive

defines
two
program
the unnamed (or blank)

that

sections:
program

the
section.

appear before any
instruction,
data,
placed
in: the absolute program section.

are

or
Any

instructions or data
that
appear
before
the
first
named
program
section
is
defined
are
placed in the unnamed program section.
Any
-PSECT
directive
that
does
not
include
a
program
section
name
specifies the unnamed program section.
A maximum of

The

254

attributes

contents

ensure

that

attributes
However,

user-defined,

listed
the

the

program

contents

assembler

and

program

.PSECT

section.

the

program

the

1linker

listed.

the

named

sections

directive
The

does

actually

check

sections
with
the
same
name have exactly the
assembler and linker display an error message if
attributes are not consistent.

5-44

only

assembler

section

can

that

defined.

describe
not

check

include

all

the
to

the

program

same attributes.
The
the
program
section

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

Program section names are independent of local symbol, global
symbol,
and
macro
names.
Thus,
the
same
symbolic name can be used for a
program section and for a local symbol, global symbol, or macro name.
Formats

.PSECT

.PSECT program-section-name{,argument-list]
Parameters
program-section-name

The name of the program section.
This
name
can
be
up
to
15
characters
1long
and
can contain any alphanumeric character and
the underline ( ), dollar sign ($), and
period
(.)
characters.
However,
the first character must not be a digit in the range of
0

through

argument-list
A list containing the program section

attributes

and

the

program

section
alignment.
Table
5-5
1lists
the attributes and their
functions.
Table 5-6 lists
the
default
attributes
and
their
opposites.
Program
sections are aligned when an integer in the
range of 0 through 9
is
specified
or
when
one
of
the
five
keywords
1listed below is specified.
If an integer is specified,
the program section is
1linked
to
begin
at
the
next
wvirtual
address
that
1is
a
multiple
of
2
raised to the power of the
integer.
If a keyword
1is
specified,
the
program
section
is
linked to begin at the next virtual address that is a multiple of
listed below:

BYTE

WORD
LONG
QUAD

PAGE

BYTE

the

”~

(in Bytes)
0100

Size
WWhHHO

Keyword

nununn

the values

default.

Table

5-5

Program Section Attributes

Attribute

Function

Name

ABS

Absolute--The linker assigns
the
program
section
an
absolute
address.
The contents of the program section
can be only symbol definitions (usually definitions
of

symbolic
offsets
to
data structures that are used by
the routines being
assembled).
An
absolute
program
section contributes no binary code to the image, so its
byte allocation request to the linker is 0.
The
size
of
the data structure being defined is the size of the
absolute
program
section
printed
1in
the
"program
section
synopsis"
at the end of the listing.
Compare
this attribute with its opposite, REL.
(continued on next page)

5-45

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

Table 5-5 (Cont.)
Program Section Attributes

Attribute

Function

Name
|

CON

Concatenate--Program

sections

with

the

same

name

and

attributes
(including CON) are merged into one program
section.
Their contents are merged
in
the
order
1in
which
the linker acquires them.
The allocated virtual
address space is the sum of
the
individual
requested
allocations.
EXE

Executable--The

program

section

contains

instructions.

This
attribute
provides
the capability of separating
instructions from read-only and read/write
data.
The
linker
uses
this
attribute
1in
gathering
program
sections and in verifying that the transfer address
is
in an executable program section.
GBL

Global--Program sections that have the
same
name
attributes,
including
GBL and OVR, will have the

relocatable

address

sections
are
in
Linker
Reference
clusters).
This

in memory

even

when

the

LCL

LCL.

Local--The

cluster.

GBL.

program
section
1is
restricted
Compare
this
attribute
with its

LIB

Library Segment--Reserved

NOEXE

Not

Executable--The

it does
NOPIC

program

different
clusters
(see the VAX-1l1l
Manual
for
more
information
on
attribute
is
specified for FORTRAN

COMMON block program sections (see the
VAX-1l
IV-PLUS User's Guide).
Compare this attribute

opposite,

and
same

not contain

for

program

future

section

contains

Content--The

is assigned to a fixed location
it is in a shareable image).

its

to
its
opposite,

use.

instructions.

Non-Position-Independent

FORTRAN
with

data

program

in virtual

only;

section

memory

(when

NORD

Nonreadable-~Reserved

NOSHR

No Share--The program section is reserved
for
private
use at execution time by the initiating process.

NOWRT

Nonwritable--The program section's contents
altered (written into) at execution time.

OVR

Overlay--Program

attributes,

for

future

sections

including

base

OVR,

use.

with

have

the

same

cannot

name

and

relocatable

address in memory.
The allocated virtual
address
space
1is
the
requested
allocation
of
the
largest
overlaying program
section.
Compare
this
attribute

with

its opposite,

CON.

(continued

page)

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

Table

5-5

(Cont.)

Program Section Attributes
Function

Attribute
Name

can
Position~Independent Content--The program section
can be assigned to any
it
is,
that
relocated;
be
memory area (when it is in a shareable image).

PIC

future use.

Readable--Reserved for

REL

Relocatable--The linker assigns the program
section
a
The contents of the program
base address.
relocatable
attribute
this
Compare
section can be code or data.

with

its opposite,

ABS.

Share--The program section can be shared at execution
This attribute is assigned
time by multiple processes.
into a
to a program section that can be linked

SHR

shareable

image.

USR

User Segment-~Reserved for future use.

WRT

Write--The program section's contents
(written into)

Default

at execution time.

Table

can

altered

5-6

Program Section Attributes

Attribute

Opposite
Attribute

CON

OVR

EXE

NOEXE
GBL
PIC

Default

LCL
NOPIC
RD

SHR
NORD

REL

ABS

WRT

NOWRT

NOSHR

CODE, NOWRT, EXE, LONG

. PSECT

RWDATA ,WRT,NOEXE, QUAD
-8

“eo

. PSECT

Examples

PROGRAM SECTION TO CONTAIN
EXECUTABLE CODE
PROGRAM SECTION TO CONTAIN
DATA

MODIFIABLE

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

Notes

The .ALIGN directive cannot specify an alignment greater than
that
of
the
current program section;
consequently, .PSECT
should specify the largest alignment needed
in
the
program
section.
For
efficiency
of
execution,
an
alignment
of
longword or larger is recommended for
all
program
sections
that have longword data.

The

attributes

the

default

unnamed

program

sections

program

section

names

are

absolute

and

the

default

1listed

below.

Note

include

that

the

periods

and

enclosed

Attributes

and

Alignment

the

spaces.

Program

Section

Name
.

ABS

NOPIC,USR,CON,ABS,LCL,NOSHR,NOEXE,NORD, NOWRT,BYTE

BLANK

NOPIC,USR,CON,REL,LCL,NOSHR,NOEXE,RD,WRT,BYTE

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.QUAD
.QUAD -- QUADWORD STORAGE DIRECTIVE

.QUAD generates 64 bits

(8 bytes) of binary data.

Format

.QUAD literal
.QUAD symbol
Parameters

literal

Any constant value.

This value can be preceded by “o, "B, "X, or

hexadecimal, or
“A to specify
Decimal is the default radix.

“D to specify the radix as octal, binary,
decimal, respectively; or it can be preceded by
the ASCII text operator.

symbol

A symbol defined somewhere in the program. This symbol results
in a sign-extended, 32-bit value being stored in a quadword.
Example

. QUAD

“A'..ASK?..'

:+ EACH ASCII CHARACTER IS STORED

.QUAD

; QUAD 0

. QUAD
. QUAD
. QUAD

“X0123456789ABCDEF
“B1111000111001101
LABEL

;

IN A BYTE

; QUAD HEX VALUE SPECIFIED
; QUAD HEX VALUE SPECIFIED
: LABEL HAS A 32 BIT
;

VALUE ZERO EXTENDED.

Note

(.BYTE,
.QUAD is different from other data storage directives
in that it does not evaluate expressions and
.LONG)
.WORD, and
It does not accept a list.
that it accepts only one value.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

-REFn
+REFn

-- OPERAND GENERATION DIRECTIVES

VAX-11

MACRO

Chapter

has

four

define

operand

storage

new opcodes:

directives

used

Directive

Function

REF1

Generates

byte

operand

REF2

Generates

word

operand

REF4

Generates

longword

operand

REF8

Generates

quadword

operand

-REFn is provided
provides
greater
consequently,

macros

for compatibility with VAX-11
MACRO
VI1.0.
functionality
and
is
easier
to
use than

.OPDEF

should

used

instead

(see

.OPDEF
.REFn;

.REFn.

Formats

.REF1

operand

.REF2

operand

.REF4

operand

.REF8

operand

Parameter
operand
An

operand

byte,

+.MACRO

MOVL3

.BYTE

A,B,C

“XFF, "XA9

respectively.

word,

longword,

quadword

context,

Example

.REF4

;

THIS

OPERAND

HAS

THIS

OPERAND

HAS

THIS

OPERAND

HAS

.REF4

.ENDM

MOVL3

R0, @LAB-1
(R7) +[R10]
,

LONGWORD CONTEXT
LONGWORD CONTEXT
LONGWORD CONTEXT

This example uses .REF4 to create a new instruction,
MOVL3, which uses
the
reserved
opcode
FF.
See the example in .OPDEF for a preferred
method to create a new instruction.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.RESTORE_PSECT
+RESTORE_PSECT -- RESTORE PREVIOUS PROGRAM SECTION CONTEXT DIRECTIVE
.RESTORE_PSECT retrieves the program section from the top of the
If
program section context stack, an internal stack in the assembler.
.RESTORE PSECT is issued, the assembler
the stack is empty when
displays an error message. When.RESTORE_PSECT retrieves a program
section, it restores the current location counter to the value it had
when the program section was saved. The local label block is also
restored if it was saved when the program section was saved.
Format

.RESTORE_PSECT

Example

.SAVE PSECT and .RESTORE PSECT are useful in macros

program

sections

(see ~Chapter

6).

that

define

The macro definition below

saves the current program section context and defines new program

If the
it restores the saved program section.
Then,
sections.
macro did not save and restore the program section context each
time the macro was invoked, the program section would change.
S

INITD

LEV=2

DEFINE SYMBOLS

MAXNUM=100

RATE1=16

RATE2=4

DATA,NOEXE,LONG
100

.PSECT
.BLKL

.BLKB
16
.RESTORE_PSECT

DEFINE ANOTHER PSECT
100 LONGWORDS IN TABL
MORE STORAGE
RESTORE THE PSECT
EFFECT WHEN

TABL:
TEMP:

. THE CURRENT PSECT
SAVE
DEFINE NEW PSECT

SYMBOLS,ABS

HELP

PSECT

.SAVE

.PSECT

INITIALIZE SYMBOLS
AND DATA AREAS

.MACRO

MACRO IS

INVOKED

. ENDM
Note

The alternate form of .RESTORE_PSECT is .RESTORE.

5-51

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.SAVE__PSECT
+SAVE_PSECT

-SAVE_PSECT

stores

SAVE

CURRENT
the

PROGRAM

current

program

the
program section context stack,
leaving the current program section
-SAVE_PSECT

program

and

.RESTORE_PSECT

sections

-RESTORE_PSECT

(see

for

SECTION CONTEXT DIRECTIVE

are

Chapter

another

example

section

context

an internal assembler
context in effect.
useful

6).
using

macros

See

the

top

stack,

that

while

define

description

.SAVE_PSECT.

Format
.SAVQ_PSECT

[LOCAL_BLOCK]

Parameter

LOCAL_BLOCK
An

optional

to be

keyword

that

specifies

that

the

current

local

saved with the program section context.

1label

Example

-y

LABEL

“

WILL GENERATE

LOCAL

THIS
SINCE

symbol

THE

IN A

DEFINITION

DIFFERENT

ERROR
FOR

LABEL

.PSECT

WO
NS
NS

SET

LOCAL

ORIGINAL PSECT
THAT THIS IS STILL LOCAL
LABEL BLOCK THAT WAS STARTED

RSB

NEW

NOTE

LOAD UP

STRING

PRINT IT

PSECT

BACK

TYPE

OUT

.PSECT STRINGS
IT

BSBW

W“PNTR,RO

NEW

CREATES

BLOCK

NOT

WME

MOVAB

ALSO

POINTER TO STRING
STRING TO BE PRINTED

.RESTORE_PSECT

LABEL

TEXT/

SWITCH
THIS

/SOME ASCII

BLOCK

20$

LOCAL

SAVE CURRENT PSECT NUMBER

STRINGS

BLOCK

.SAVE_PSECT

.ASCII

208

CREATES

BRANCH IS LOW BIT CLEAR

Undefined

THIS

SMACRO-E-UNDEFSYMBOL,

PNTR =

.WORD

R0,20$

START::

“BLBC

PROGRAM

BLOCK AS

SAME

ADDRESS

LOCAL

LABEL

REFERENCE

;

THIS

TIME

USING

.SAVE_PSECT

LOCAL_ BLOCK

’

BECAUSE

STRINGS

.PSECT

5-52

LOCAL

BRAKCH

LOCAL_BLOCK

NEW

WILL NOT PRODUCE AN

.SAVE_PSECT

CREATES

R0,20%

BLBC

THIS

BLOCK

-n

LABEL::

OTHER

LABEL

LOW BIT CLEAR

ERROR
LOCAL LABEL BLOCK

IS SAVED
SAVE CURRENT PSECT NUMBER
AND THE LQCAL LABEL BLOCK

SWITCH TO NEW PSECT
THIS ALSO CREATES NEW
LOCAL LABEL BLOCK

.ASCII /SOME ASCII TEXT/

.RESTORE_PSECT

SET POINTER TO STRING
TEXT TO BE PRINTED
BACK TO ORIGINAL PSECT

NOTE WE ARE BACK

RSB

PRINT_IT

WTM PNTR,
RO

BSBW

20S:

MOVAB

PNTR

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

LABEL BLOCK STARTED
OTHER_LABEL

LOCAL
BY

LOAD UP STRING ADDRESS
TYPE IT OUT
IS NOW IN SAME LOCAL LABEL
BLOCK AS REFERENCE

Notes

If the stack is full when .SAVE§PSECT
1.
occurs.
The stack capacity is

1issued,

error

includes
the
values
of
the
The program
section
context
and the maximum value assigned to
current
location
counter

the location counter

The alternate form of

in the current program section.
.SAVE_PSECT is

.SAVE.

GERERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

SHOW
.NOSHOW

-SHOW AND

.NOSHOW --

LISTING DIRECTIVES

-.SHOW and .NOSHOW specify listing control options in the
of
a
program.
.SHOW
and
.NOSHOW
can
be used with
argument list.

source
text
or without an

When used with an argument list, .SHOW causes certain types
of
1lines
to be included in the listing file and .NOSHOW causes certain types of
lines to be excluded.
.SHOW and .NOSHOW control the
listing
of
the
source
1lines
that
are
in
conditional
assembly
blocks
(see
the
description of .IF), macros, and repeat blocks (see Chapter 6).
When used without arguments, these directives alter the listing
level
count.
The listing level count is initialized to 0.
Each time .SHOW
appears in a program, the listing level count
is
incremented;
each
time
.NOSHOW
appears
in
a
program,
the
listing
level
count is
decremented.
When

the

(unless

listing
the

level

1line

count

contains

negative,
error).

the

1listing

Conversely,

is
when

suppressed
the

listing

level count is positive, the listing is generated.
When the count
0,
the line is either listed or suppressed, depending on the value
the listing control symbolic arguments.

is
of

Formats
«.SHOW

.SHOW argument-list
. NOSHOW
.NOSHOW argument-list
Parameter

argument-list

One or more of the optional symbolic arguments, defined in
Table
5-7.
Either the long form or the short form of the arguments can
be used.
Each argument can be used alone or in combination
with
other
arguments.
If multiple arguments are specified, they must

separated by commas, tabs, or spaces.
If any argument is
not
specifically included in a listing control statement, its default

value

(Show or

Noshow)

assumed

5-54

throughout

the

source

program.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

Table

.SHOW and

Long Form

5-7

.NOSHOW Symbolic Arguments

Short. Form

Default

Function

BINARY

Pem—

MEB

Noshow

—]

Lists macro expansions and

repeat block expansions
that generate binary code.
BINARY is a subset of
EXPANSIONS.

CALLS

Show

CONDITIONALS

CND

Show

DEFINITIONS

Show

Lists macro calls and
repeat block specifiers.

Lists unsatisfied

conditional code
associated with the
conditional assembly
directives.

Lists macro and repeat
range definitions that
appear in an input source
file.

EXPANSIONS

Noshow

Lists macro gnd repeat
range

expansions.

Example
.MACRO

.SéOW

; LIST NEXT LINE.
; DO NOT LIST REMAINDER OF MACRO

. NOSHOW

;

EXPANSION.

;

DO NOT LIST MACRO EXPANSIONS.

.EfiDM
.NOSHOW EXPANSIONS
‘e

Notes

listed
be
to
count allows macros
1level
1listing
The
a macro definition can specify .NOSHOW at the
selectively;
beginning to decrement the
1listing count and can
specify
.SHOW at the end to restore the listing count to its original
value.

The alternate forms
.NLIST.

.SHOW

and

.NOSHOW

are

.LIST

and

GERERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.SIGNED__BYTE
.SIGNED_BYTE

-~ SIGNED BYTE DATA DIRECTIVE

.SIGNED_BYTE

indicates
uses

equivalent

that

this

the

information

.BYTE,

except

that

VAX-11

data is signed in the object module.
to

test

for

MACRO

The linker

overflow conditions.

Format

-SIGNED BYTE

expression-list

Parameters

expression-list
An expression or list of expressions separated by
commas.
expression
optionally
can
be
followed
by a repetition

delimited
An

by square brackets.

expression

followed

repetition

factor

has

the

Each
factor

format:

expressionl{expression2]
expressionl
An

expression

that

specifies

the

value

stored.

[expression2]
An expression that specifies the number of times the
value
will
he
repeated.
The
expression
must
not
contain any undefined
symbols and must be an absolute
expression
(see
Section
3.5).

The

square brackets are

required.

Example
-SIGNED BYTE

LABEL1~-LABEL2

;

-SIGNED BYTE

DATA MUST FIT

ALPHA{20]

;

BYTE

Note

Specifying

conditions
128

data

through

but

.SIGNED BYTE allows

when

the

value of

the

1linker

the expression is

255.
Values in this range can be
cannot be stored as signed data in a

detect

in the

stored

byte.

overflow

range of
unsigned

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

SIGNED_WORD
-SIGNED_WORD ~-

SIGNED WORD

STORAGE

.SIGNED WORD
1is
equivalent
indicates
that
the
data is
uses this information to test

useful

fits

DIRECTIVE

to
.WORD
except
that
the
signed in the object module.

for

overflow

conditions.

assembler
The linker
.SIGNED WORD

after the case instruction to ensure that the displacement

a word.

Format

.SIGNED _WORD expression-list
Parameters

expression-list
An expression or list of expressions separated by
commas.
expression
optionally
can
be
followed
by a repetition
delimited by square brackets.
An

expression

followed

repetition

factor

has

the

Each
factor

format:

expressionl[expression2]
expressionl

An expression that specifies the value to be stored.
[expression2]
An expression

that

specifies

the

number

be
repeated.
The
expression
symbols and must be an abgolute
The

times

the

value

will

must
not
contain any undefined
expression
(see
Section
3.5).

square brackets are required.

Example

CASE,SRC,DISPLIST,TYPE=W;LIMIT=#0,NMODE= S~ #,?BASE, ?MAX

.MACRO

MACRO TO USE CASE

SRC IS SELECTOR,

OF DISPLACEMENTS,

INSTRUCTION

DISPLIST 1S LIST
TYPE 1S B-BYTE

TMo

W-WORD, L-LONG, LIMIT IS THE BASE
VALUE OF SELECTOR
SRC, LIMIT,NMODE '<<MAX-BASE>/2>-1
e

CASE'TYPE

BASE:

CASE

CASEW

W
W

CASE
IVAR

LOCAL LABEL USED TO COUNT ARG3

<ERR_PROC;SORT,REV SORT>

;

IVAFR,$0,57$#<330001$-3000085/2>-1

30000%:

«SIGNED_WORD

ERR PROC~30006GS

-SIGNED_WORD

REV SORT-30000¢

.SIGNEDWOED

30001%:

OFFSET LIST

“b

.ENDM

SORT~30000$

IF IVAR=0,

ERPON;

WSCRT. LABEL SPECIFYING BASE
;

QPFSET LIST

; OFPSET LIST

: OFFSET LIST

MAX:

EP~-BASE

LOCAL LABEI SPECIFYING BASE
TO SET UP OFFSET LIST

.SIGNED_WORD
.ENDR

EP,(DISPLIST>

. IRP

CASE INSTRUCTIOM

LOCAL LABEL USED 7O COUNT ARGSH
=}, FOWARD SORT; =2,BACKWARD SORI

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

CASE

TEST

CASEL

TEST, #1,S " #<<30003$-30002$>/2>-1

<TEST1,TEST2,TEST3>,L,#1

30002:

“o
“e

30003s:

this

CASEW,

example,

directives

the

CASE macro

CASEL instruction.

used

LOCAL LABEL SPECIFYING BASE

TEST1-30002$
TEST2-30002$
TEST3-30002$

.SIGNED WORD
.SIGNED_WORD
.SIGNED_WORD

to define

uses

OFFSET

LIST

OFFSET
OFFSET

LIST
LIST

;

LOCAL

LABEL

;

VALUE

OF TEST CAN BE

.SIGNED WORD to

USED

TO COUNT ARGS

create

1,2,

CASEB,

See Chapter 6 for a description of

the

the macro.

Note

Specifying

conditions

.SIGNED WORD allows

when

the

1linker

detect

overflow

value of the expression is in the range of

32768 through 65535.
Values in
this
unsigned data but cannot be stored as

range
can
signed data

be
stored
in a word.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.SUBTITLE
-SUBTITLE

SUBTITLE DIRECTIVE

.SUBTITLE causes the assembler to print a line of text in the table of
contents
that
is
produced
immediately before the assembly listing.
The assembler also prints the line of text
as
the
subtitle
on
the
second
1line
of
each
assembly
1listing page.
This subtitle text is
printed on each page until altered by a subsequent .SUBTITLE directive
in the program.
Format

.SUBTITLE comment-string
Parameter

comment-string
An ASCII string
are
truncated.

from 1
This

to 47 characters long;
string
represents the

printed in the table of contents
assembly listing.

and

the

excess
line of

characters
text to be

subtitle

the

Examples
1.

.SUBTITLE

CONDITIONAL ASSEMBLY

This directive cause the assembler
to
print
text as the subtitle of the assembly listing:

the

following

CONDITIONAL ASSEMBLY

TABLE

(1)
(2)
(2)

5000
1300
2300

(3)
(4)
(4)
(5)

CONTENTS

ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES
MACRO DEFINITIONS
DATA TABLES AND INITIALIZATION
4800 MAIN ROUTINE
2800 CALCULATIONS
5000 I/0 ROUTINES
1300 CONDITIONAL ASSEMBLY

During

assembly, a table of
contents
1is
printed
for
the
assembly
listing.
It
contains
the
source page number and the line sequence
number of the source file and the
text
accompanying
each
.SUBTITLE
directive.
Note

The

alternate

form of

.SUBTITLE

.SBTTL.

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

-TITLE
«TITLE

TITLE

DIRECTIVE

.TITLE assigns a name to the object module.
This name
or fewer nonblank characters following the directive.

the

first

Format

.TITLE module-name

comment-string

Parameters

module-name

identifier

from

15 characters

long.

comment~string
An
are

ASCII

string

from

characters

long;

excess

characters

truncated.

Example
.TITLE

EVAL

EVALUATES

EXPRESSIONS

Notes

The module name specified with .TITLE bears
no
relationship
to
the file specification of the object module, as specified
in the VAX-11 MACRO command line.
Rather, the object
module
name
appears
in the linker load map, and is also the module
name that the debugger and librarian recognize.
If .TITLE is not specified, MACRO assigns
the
default
name
+MAIN,
to
the
object
module.
If
more
than one .TITLE
directive
is specified in the source program, the last .TITLE

directive

encountered

object module.

establishes

the

name for the entire

When evaluating the module-name,
MACRO
ignores
all
spaces
and/or
tabs
up to the first nonspace/nontab character after
+TITLE,

GERERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.TRANSFER
- TRANSFER -~ TRANSFER DIRECTIVE

.TRANSFER redefines a global symbol for use in a shareable image.
The
linker
redefines
the
symbol as the value of the location counter at
the .TRANSFER directive after a shareable image is linked.
When shareable images are relinked, they should be
relinked
so
that
the
programs linked with them need not be relinked.
This can only be
achieved if the entry points in the
shareable
image
do
not
change
their
addresses
when
the
source
code
is changed and the image is
relinked.

To build such a

shareable image, the programmer

creates

object module that contains a transfer vector for each entry point and
does not change the order of the transfer vectors.
This object module
is
1linked
at
the beginning of the shareable image and the addresses
will remain fixed even if source code for a routine is changed.
After
each
.TRANSFER
directive, a register save mask ({(for procedures only)
and a branch to the first instruction of the routine should appear.

Figure 5-1 illustrates
the
use
of
entry
vectors.
The
.TRANSFER
directive
does
not
cause
any
memory
to be allocated and does not
generate any binary code.
It merely
generates
instructions
to
the
linker to redefine the symbol when a shareable image is being created.

.TRANSFER can be used with procedures entered by the
CALLS
or
CALLG
instruction.
In
this
case,
.TRANSFER
1is used with the .ENTRY and
.MASK directives.
The branch to the actual routine must be
a
branch
to
the
entry
point plus 2.
Adding 2 to the address is necessary to
bypass the 2-byte register save mask.
Linked with Object Modules

Linked with Shareable Image

Program

Calling

CALLS

Procedure

Program

ROUTB

.TRANSFER

ROUTA

.MASK

ROUTA

Transfer

BRW

ROUTA+2

Vector

.TRANSFER

ROUTB-=

Module

MASK

RQUTB

BRW

ROUTB+2 —

Calling

CALLS

Procedure

ROUTB

Shareable <
Image

Other
Obiect

Mocliul .
¢

.ENTRY
ROUTB,0
;START OF ROUTINE-=

Object

:
RET

Modules

ENTRY
ROUTB, 0=
; START OF ROUTINE

2
RET

Figure

5-1

Using

Transfer Vectors

5-61

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

Format
. TRANSFER

symbol

Parameter

symbol

A global

symbol

that

entry

point

a procedure

routine.

Example
ROUTINE

ROUTINE A, "M<R4,R5>
-

;s COPY ENTRY MASK
s AND ADD REGISTERS

BRW

ROUTINE A+2

;s
;

4 AND 5
BRANCH TO ROUTINE

’

(PAST ENTRY MASK)

.MASK

ROUTINE_A, "M<R2,R3>

-y

. ENTRY

. TRANSFER

ENTRY POINT, SAVE
REGISTERS 2 AND 3

RET

In this example, .MASK copies a routine's entry mask to the new
entry
address
specified
by
.TRANSFER.
If
the
routine
1is
placed in a
shareable image and then called, registers 2, 3,
4,
and
5
will
be
saved.

5-62

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

.WARN
+WARN

-- WARNING

DIRECTIVE

.WARN causes the
assembler
to
display
a
warning
message
on
the
terminal or batch log file and in the listing file (if there is one).
Format

.WARN

[expression]

j;comment

Parameters

expression

An expression whose value
during assembly.

is displayed when

.WARN is

encountered

scomment

A comment that is
displayed
when
.WARN
comment must be preceded by a semicolon.

encountered.

The

Example
.IF

DEFINED

FULL

.IF

DEFINED

DOUBLE

.WARN

PREC

THISCOMBINATION NOT TESTED

.ENDC
.ENDC

If the symbols FULL and DOUBLE_PREC are both
warning message is displayed.
EMACRO-W-GENWRN,

Generated WARNING:

defined,

the

following

THIS COMBINATION NOT TESTED

Notes

.WARN, .ERROR,
directives.

and .PRINT
are
called
the
message
display
They
can
be
used
to
display
information
indicating that a macro call contains an error or an
illegal
set
of
conditions
(see
Chapter
6 for more information on

macro

calls).

When the assembly is finished,
the
assembler
displays
the
total. number of errors and warnings and the page numbers and
line numbers of the lines causing the errors
or
warning
on
the
terminal
(or
in
the
batch log file).
See the VAX-11
MACRO
User's
Guide
for
more
information
on
errors
and
warnings.

If .WARN is included in a macro library (see the VAX-11 MACRO
User's
Guide),
the
comment
should
end with an additional
semicolon.
Otherwise, the comment will be stripped from
the
directive and will not be displayed when the macro is called.

The line containing the
the listing file.

If the expression has
the warning message.

.WARN directive is

a value of

not

included

displayed

GERERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

WEAK
«WEAK -~ WEAK SYMBOL ATTRIBUTE DIRECTIVE

.WEAK specifies symbols that are either defined externally in
another
module
or
defined
globally in the current module.
.WEAK suppresses
any object library search for the symbol.
When .WEAK specifies a symbol that
is
not
defined
module,
the
symbol
1is
externally defined.
1If the
symbol's definition in another module, it uses
that

the

1linker

value of 0
not search

does

not

find

an external

definition,

and the linker does not report an error.
a library for the symbol, but if a module

library for
uses it.

another

reason contains

the

in
the
current
linker finds the
definition.
If

symbol

the

symbol

has

The
1linker
does
brought in from a

definition,

the

1linker

When .WEAK specifies a symbol that is defined in the
current
module,
the
symbol
1is
considered
to be globally defined.
However, if this
module is inserted in an object library, this symbol is
not
inserted
in the library's symbol table.
Consequently, searching the library at

link time
included.

resolve this symbol

does

not

cause

Format

.WEAK

symbol-list

Parameter

symbol-list
A list of

legal

symbols

Example
.WEAK

IOCAR,LAB
3

separated

commas.

the

module

GENERAL ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

-WORD
+WORD -- WORD STORAGE
.WORD generates

DIRECTIVE

successive

words

bytes)

data

the

object

module.
Format

+WORD

expression-list

Parameter

expression-list
One

optionally
square

expressions

can

separated

followed

by a

commas.

repetition

Each

factor

brackets.

expression

followed

by a

repetition

factor

has

expression

delimited

the

format:

expressionl [expression2]
expressionl
An

expression

that

specifies

the

value

stored.

.WORD

“X3F,FIVE[3],32

Notes

The

expression

truncated

is
a

first

word.

The

evaluated
value

as
the

longword,

expression

then

should

in the range of -32768 through 32767 for
signed
data
or
0
through
65535
for unsigned data.
The assembler displays an
error if the high-order 2 bytes of
the
longword
expression
have a value other than 0 or “XFFFF.

/
2.

The

the
the

.SIGNED WORD directive

the

same

.WORD

except

that

assembler displays a diagnostic message if a value is in
range

from

32768

65535.

CHAPTER

MACROS

using

macros,

sequence

A macro

definition

definition
arguments

the

source

can
can

formal

programmer

can

lines

into

contains

the

optionally

used

arguments

source

have

throughout

are

use

single

1line

insert

program.

the

replaced

lines

formal

sequence

the

macro.

arguments.
of

actual

source

The

macro

These

formal

lines.

Later,

arguments

the

macro

call.

The macro call consists of
the
macro
name
actual
arguments.
The
assembler
replaces
macro
any

call

with

the

occurrences

actual

arguments

the macro

lines

formal

specified

the

arguments

the

macro

the

definition.
macro

call.

definition

This

process

the
replaces

with

the

called

expansion.

By default,

They

source

optionally
followed
the line containing

are

macro expansions are not printed in the assembly
listing.
printed
only
when the .SHOW directive (see description in

Chapter 5) specifies the EXPANSIONS argument.
In the examples in this
chapter, the macro expansions are listed as they would appear if .SHOW
EXPANSIONS

was

specified

the

source

file.

The
macro
categories

directives
provide
facilities
of
functions.
Table
6-1 lists

directives

that

arguments,

6.1

the

ARGUMENTS
have

arguments

the macro.
definition:

thenm.

types
the

Formal
that

The number of
equal
to the
if the number

describes

are

presented

in detail.

alphabetical

For

macro

ease

order.

strings

arguments:
given

arguments
are
1is,
after the
in
macro
separated

actual

and

macro

call

the

specified
macro name

calls

and

by commas,

by
in

Actual

the

name

name
in
the
macro
the .MACRO directive.

formal

tabs,

formal.
after

arguments

macro

spaces.

actual arguments in the macro call can be less
than
or
number of formal arguments in the macro definition.
But
of actual arguments is greater than the number of formal

arguments,

the

Formal

actual

assembler

displays

arguments

normally

relationship.
That
1is,
the
first
replaces all occurrences of the first
definition.
However,
this
strict

overridden

6.1

Section

eight
and the

IN MACROS

two
are

directives

Actual
arguments
definitions can be

and

wunder

performing
categories

Section 6.2 describes the directives

reference,

Macros

fall

for
these

by the

use

keyword

error

message.

maintain

strict

positional

actual argument in a macro call
formal
argument
in
the
macro
positional
relationship
can be

arguments

(see

Section

6.1.2).

MACROS

Table

6-1

Summary of Macro

Directives

Category

Directives*

Macro Definition
Directives

.MACRO
. ENDM

Macro Library
Directives

. LIBRARY
+MCALL

Macro Deletion
Directive

«.MDELETE

Macro Exit
Directive

«MEXIT

Argument Attribute
Directives

«NARG
«NCHR
+NTYPE

Indefinite Repeat
Block Directives

«IRP
« IRPC

Repeat Block
Directives

+.REPEAT

End Range
Directive

« ENDR

alternate

form,

An example of a macro definition using

1
2

MACRO

IS
IS
IS

3
1
2

MACRO

3,2,1

X-Y

STORE

+ LONG
+.WORD
.BYTE

two examples show possible calls and expansions

above.

. LONG
«WORD
.BYTE

ARG2

IS FIRST ARGUMENT
IS THIRD ARGUMENT
IS SECOND ARGUMENT

STORE

ARGl
ARG3

N X

ARG3
ARG2

1is

ARG1,ARG2,ARG3

The following
macro defined

STORE

ARG1

any,

formal arguments follows:

.MACRO
. LONG
-WORD
.BYTE
- ENDM

in parentheses.

The

given

(.REPT)

CALL

FIRST ARGUMENT
THIRD ARGUMENT
SECOND ARGUMENT
CALL

X IS FIRST ARGUMENT
Z IS THIRD ARGUMENT
X~Y IS SECOND ARGUMENT

the

MACROS

6.1.1

Default

Values

values

are

They
are
used
formal argument.
Default

values

when

are

example

«MACRO

STORE

.« LONG

ARG1

.WORD

ARG3

.BYTE
. ENDM

ARG2

defined
1is

the

6.1.2

names

three

. LONG

-WORD
.BYTE

1000
0

STORE

1 5,X

« LONG

«WORD
+BYTE

X
5

STORE

. LONG

-WORD
.BYTE

1000
0

examples

macro

specifying

show possible

the

macro

definition

specified

macro

call

the

arguments

are

combined

macro,

correspond

position

the

formal

used.

argument

and

call

follows:

values

follows:

calls

and

expansions

the

If
a

;

NO ARGUMENTS

SUPPLIED

;

LAST TWO ARGUMENTS

;

FIRST ARGUMENT SUPPLIED

SUPPLIED

keyword

formal

keyword

overrides

should

arguments.

argument

argument,

any

Keyword

formal

in
any
argument

arguments

arguments,

only

are

some

call.

arguments

macro

all

many

not

default

definition.

has

arguments

are

for

ARG1l=12,ARG2=0,ARG3=1000

to be

one

call

= default-value

definition

which need
any

definition.

macro

allow a macro call to specify the arguments
the macro call must specify the same formal

appear

when

macro
the

Arguments

arguments
however,

that

useful

above.

Keyword

Keyword
order;

the

.MACRO directive

STORE

specified

STORE

The following
macro defined
1.

macro

are

value

specified

formal-argument-name
An

that

the

either

When

only

the

arguments;
corresponds
argument

all

positional

positional
and

positional
the
to

that

keyword

both

appears

other

argument

definition

macro

definition

specifies

for

keyword

arguments
arguments
positional
last

the

same

argument.

For

example,

the

following

+.MACRO

STORE

« LONG

ARG1l

«WORD
+BYTE

ARG3
ARG2

« ENDM

STORE

ARGl ,ARG2,ARG3

three

arguments:

MACROS

The

following macro call
STORE
. LONG
.WORD
.BYTE

specifies keyword arguments:

ARG3=27+5/4 ,ARG2=5,ARG1=SYMBL
SYMBL
27+5/4
5

Because the keywords are specified in the macro call, the arguments in
the
macro call need not be given in the order they were listed in the
macro definition.

6.1.3

String Arguments

If an actual argument is
a
string
containing
characters
that
the
assembler
interprets
as separators (such as a tab, space, or comma),

the string must be enclosed
by
delimiters.
String
delimiters
are
usually
paired
angle
brackets
(<>).
However,
the assembler also

interprets

any

delimiter.

character

Thus,

after

programmer can use the circumflex
The

initial

circumflex

(7)

pass an angle bracket as part of a string,
form of

the delimiter.

the

following are examples of delimited macro arguments:
<HAVE

THE

SUPPLIES

RUN

OUT?>

“$ARGUMENT IS <LAST,FIRST> FOR CALLS%
"?EXPRESSION IS <5+3>*<4+2>?

In the last two examples the initial circumflex indicates the
percent
sign
(%)
and
question
mark
(?), respectively, are the delimiters.
Note that only the left hand delimiter is preceded by a circumflex.

The assembler interprets a string argument enclosed by
delimiters
as
one
actual argument and associates it with one formal argument.
If a
string argument that contains separator characters is not enclosed
by
delimiters, the assembler interprets it as successive actual arguments
and

associates

For

example,

it with successive

the

formal

following macro call

«.MACRO

REPEAT

.ASCII
.ASCII

/STRNG/
/STRNG/

- ENDM

REPEAT

arguments.

has one

formal

argument.

STRNG

The following two macro calls demonstrate actual

arguments

with

and

without delimiters.
1.

REPEAT
.ASCII

.ASCII

<A B C D E>
/A B CD E/
/A B C D E/

REPEAT

$MACRO-E-TOOMNYARGS, Too many arguments in MACRO call

Note that the assember interpreted the second
macro
call
as
having
five actual arguments instead of one actual argument with spaces.
When a macro is called,
the
assembler
removes
present)
around
a
string
before
associating

the
delimiters
(if
it
with
the formal

arguments,
\

MACROS

If a string contains a semicolon,
the
string
must
be
enclosed
by
delimiters, or the semicolon will mark the start of the comment field.
To pass a number containing a radix or unary
operator
(for
example,
“XF19),
the
entire
argument
must be enclosed by delimiters, or the
assembler will interpret the
radix
operator
as
a
delimiter.
The
following. are macro arguments that are enclosed in delimiters because
they contain

radix operators:

<"XF19>
<"B01100011>
<°F1.5>

Macros can be nested, that is a macro definition can contain a call to
another
macro.
1If within a macro definition, another macro is called

and passed a string argument, the programmer must delimit the argument
so
that
the
entire
string
1is
passed
to
the second macro as one

argument.,

The following macro definition contains a call

the

REPEAT

in an earlier example:

LABl:

+MACRO
.BYTE

CNTRPT
LABl,LAB2,STR_ARG
LAB2-LABl-1
;

LENGTH OF

REPEAT

<STR_ARG>

CALL REPEAT MACRO

« ENDM

CNTRPT

defined

macro

2+STRING

LAB2:

Note that the argument in the call to
REPEAT
is
enclosed
1in
angle
brackets
even
though
the
actual
argument
does
not
contain
any
separator characters.
This is done because the actual argument in the

call
be

REPEAT is a formal argument in the macro definition and will

replaced

with

actual

argument

that

may

contain

separator

characters,

The following example calls the macro CNTRPT which in turn
macro

CNTRPT
+.BYTE
REPEAT
.ASCII
.ASCII

ST:

calls

the

REPEAT:

ST,FIN,<LEARN YOUR ABC'S>
FIN-ST-1
: LENGTH OF 2*STRING
<LEARN YOUR ABC'S>
; CALL REPEAT MACRO
/LEARN YOUR ABC'S/
/LEARN YOUR ABC'S/

FIN:

An alternative method to pass string arguments in nested macros is
to
enclose
the
macro
argument
in nested delimiters.
In this case the

macro
time

calls in the macro definitions should not have delimiters.
Each
the
delimited
argument
is used in a macro call, the assembler

removes the outermost pair of delimiters before
associating
it
with
the
formal
argument.
This
method
is
not
recommended because it
requires that the programmer know how deeply a macro is nested.

The

following macro definition also

contains

call

the

macro:

.MACRO

CNTRPT2

+BYTE

LAB2-LAB1-1

REPEAT

STR_ARG

- ENDM

CNTRPT2

LAB2:

LABl,LAB2,STR_ARG

;

LENGTH OF

LABl:

CALL

2*STRING

REPEAT MACRO

repeat

MACROS

Note that
brackets.

The

the

following

BEG:

argument

example

calls

the

call

REPEAT

the macro

BEG,TERM,<<MIND

.BYTE

TERM-BEG-1

REPEAT

<MIND

.ASCII
.ASCII

/MIND YOUR P'S AND Q's/
/MIND YOUR P'S AND Q'S/

P'S

AND

;

YOUR

P'S

AND

not

enclosed

angle

CNTRPT2:

CNTRPT2

YOUR

Q'S>>

LENGTH

2*STRING

Q'S>

TERM:

Note

that

not

enclosed

even

though
in

delimiters

because

around

the

string

6.1.4

Argument

The
a

argument
macro

precede

the

concatenation

If an apostrophe
1is

expanded.

For

the

argument

Note
that
expansion.

the

concatenate

two

call

operator,

the

argument

ARGl

the
is

actual

the

formal

argument

expanded

1if

ARG2

itself

ARG2'L

does

separate

not

the

two

definition

CONCAT

that

two

formal

example

TEST5:

TESTSX:

two

delimiters

that

uses

concatenates
can

either

source.

text

before

when

the

macro

associated

the
is

with

to ABCDETEST.

the

actual

formal

appear

argument

apostrophe when
expanded

formal

the

argument

MOVL.

the

arguments

macro

with

are needed because each
from the expansion.

concatenation

follows:

RO,R'NUM

CONCAT

successive

arguments
of

enclosed

INST,SIZE,NUM

INST''SIZE

TEST'NUM'X:

Note

the

argument

argument MOV,

arguments,

macro

name,

. ENDM

('),

actual

concatenation

«MACRO
TEST'NUM':

Apostrophes

formal argument name,
text that follows the

example,

apostrophe

two

name

ABCDE'ARGl

For

text.

apostrophes.
Two apostrophes
operation discards an apostrophe

definition

nested

apostrophe

argument

with

follows the
with
the
the

the

successive

example

macro

expansion

contains

constant

the

TEST,

expanded.

with

REPEAT

CNTRPT2

some

formal

example,

associated

concatenated

an apostrophe
concatenated

macro

with

precedes

apostrophe

If
is

call

to
the

Concatenation

follow a

actual

call

argument.

argument

the

delimiters,

macro

apostrophes

INST
call

CONCAT

MOV,L,5

MOVL

RO,R5

and
and

are

used

when

SIZE.
expansion

follows:

concatenating

the

MACROS

6.1.5
When

Passing Numeric Values of

Symbols

symbol

actual

specified

argument,

the

name

the

symbol,
not
the numeric value of the symbol, is passed to the macro.
However, the value
of
the
symbol
can
be
passed
by
inserting
a
backslash
before
the
symbol
in the macro call.
The assembler then
passes the characters representing the decimal value of the symbol
to
the
macro.
For example, if the symbol COUNT has a value of 2 and the

actual
"2" to

argument specified is \COUNT, the assembler passes
the
string
the macro;
it does not pass the name of the symbol, "COUNT".

Passing numeric values
of
symbols
1is
especially
useful
with
apostrophe (') concatenation operator for creating new symbols.
An

example

macro

definition

for

passing numeric

values

the

symbols

follows:

.MACRO

TESTDEF,TESTNO,ENTRYMASK="2"M<>?

.ENTRY

TEST'TESTNO,ENTRYMASK

.ENDM

TESTDEF

The following example
defined above:
COUNT

shows

;

possible

USES ARG

call

and

CONCATENATION

expansion

the

macro

TESTDEF \COUNT
COUNT

.ENTRY

TEST2, M<>

COUNT +

TESTDEF \COUNT, "?"M<R3,R4>?
.ENTRY
TEST3, "M<R3,R4>

6.1.6

Created

Local

Labels

Local labels are often very useful in macros.
Although the programmer
can
specify
1local labels in the macro definition, these local labels
might

cause

errors.

duplicated

local

labels

local

labels.

elsewhere

However,

the

the macro
These

the

expansion

labels

local

programmer

are

can

which

called

label

block

and

might

thus

use

the

assembler

create

will

not

conflict

with

other

created

local

labels.

Created local labels range from 30000$ through 65535$.
Each time
the
assembler creates a new local label, it increments the numeric part of
the label name by
1.
Consequently,
no
user-defined
1local
1labels
should be in the range of 300008 through 655358.
The programmer specifies a
placed
in
front
of
the

created local label by a question mark
(?)
formal
argument
name.
When the macro is
expanded, the assembler creates a new local label if the corresponding
actual
argument
1is
blank.
I1f the corresponding actual argument is
specified, the assembler
substitutes
the
actual
argument
for
the
formal
argument.
Created local symbols can be used only in the first
31 formal arguments specified in the .MACRO directive.
Created local labels
arguments;
created
actual arguments.

can be
1local

associated
only
with
positional
1labels
cannot be associated with

actual
keyword

MACROS

The following
label:

example

«.MACRO

POSITIVE

TSTL

ARG1

BGEQ

Ll
ARG1 ,ARG1

Ll:

« ENDM

POSITIVE

The

following
both

three

created

calls

local

POSITIVE
TSTL

definition

specifying

created

local

ARG1,?L1

MNEGL

show

macro

and

labels

expansions
and

the

macro

user-specified

defined

local

above

label:

RO
RO

BGEQ

300008

MNEGL

RO,RO

300008$:
2.

POSITIVE
TSTL

COUNT
COUNT

BGEQ

30001$

MNEGL

COUNT,COUNT

300018:
3.

POSITIVE
TSTL

6.1.7
The

VALUE,10$
VALUE

BGEQ

10$

MNEGL

VALUE,VALUE

Macro

String

three macro
e

S$SLENGTH

3$LOCATE

3IEXTRACT

Operators

string

operators

are:

These operators perform string manipulations on
macro
arguments
and
ASCII
strings.
They
can
be used only in macros and repeat blocks.
The following sections describe these operators and give their formats
and examples of their use.

MACROS

%LENGTH
6.1.7.1

SLENGTH Operator

string.

For

example,

- The

3LENGTH operator

the value of

returns

$LENGTH(<ABCDE>)

the

length of

Format

$LENGTH(string)
Parameters

string

A macro argument or
a
delimited
delimited
by
angle
brackets
or
circumflex

(see

Section

string.
The
a
character

string
can
be
preceded
by
a

6.1.3).

Examples

definition:
CHK_SIZE
.IF GREATER EQUAL

calls

and

ARGUMENT ARGl

expansions

CHK_SIZE
A
.IF GREATER EQUAL

.IF LESS_THXN

« ERROR
« ENDC
.IF FALSE

MACRO CHECKS
IS BETWEEN 3

IF ARGl
AND

6-%LENGTH (ARG1)
6 CHARACTERS LONG
; ARGUMENT ARGl IS GREATER THAN 6 CHARACTERS

« ENDC
.IF_FALSE
- ERROR
;
« ENDC
- ENDM
CHK_SIZE
Macro

$LENGTH (ARG1) -3

.IF LESS THAN
.ERROR

ARG1

.MACRO

Macro

;

the macro

1-3

6—-1

;

; IF MORE THAN 6
. ;3 IF LESS THAN 3
LESS THAN 3 CHARACTERS
; OTHERWISE DO
; NOTHING

defined

BETWEEN

above:

; SHOULD BE
3 AND

TOO

SHORT

6 CHARACTERS LONG

ARGUMENT A IS GREATER THAN 6 CHARACTERS
; IF MORE THAN 6
; IF LESS THAN 3

$MACRO-E-GENERR, Generated ERROR: ARGUMENT A IS LESS THAN 3 CHARACTERS
«ENDC
2.

;

OTHERWISE

CHK_SIZE
ABC
.IF GREATER_EQUAL
.IF LESS_ THAN

« ERROR

;

; SHOULD BE OK
3-3 ; IS BETWEEN 3 AND
6-3 ; 6 CHARACTERS LONG
ARGUMENT ABC IS GREATER THAN 6 CHARACTERS

« ERROR
« ENDC

;

ARGUMENT ABC

« ENDC
.IF_FALSE

;
;

IF MORE THAN 6
IF LESS THAN 3

LESS THAN 3 CHARACTERS
; OTHERWISE DO

MACROS

%LOCATE
6.1.7.2
S$LOCATE Operator - The %LOCATE
within
a
string.
If
SLOCATE
finds

operator

locates

a
substring
substring, it
returns the character position of the first
the match
1in
the
string.
For
example,
the value of %LOCATE(<D>,<ABCDEF>) is 3.
Note that the first character position of a string is 0.
If
SLOCATE
does
not
find a match, it returns a value equal to the length of the
string.
For example, the value of $LOCATE(<Z>,<ABCDEF>) is 6.

The $LOCATE
expression.

operator

returns

numeric

match

value

that

of the
character of

can

used

any

Format

$LOCATE(stringl,string2

[,symbol]

)

Parameters

stringl
A string that specifies the
substring.
The
substring
can
be
either
a
macro
argument or a delimited string.
The delimiters
can be either
angle
brackets
or
a
character
preceded
by
a
circumflex.
string?2

The

string

either

that

macro

can be either
circumflex.

searched

argument

angle

for

the

substring.

delimited

brackets

decimal

number

The

string.

character

string

can

The delimiters
preceded

symbol

optional

symbol

that

specifies

the

position

in
string2
at
which the assembler should start the search.
If
this argument is omitted, the
assembler
starts
the
search
at
position
0
(the
beginning of the string).
A symbol must be an
absolute symbol that has been previously
defined
and
a
number

must

operators

unsigned

are

not

decimal

number.

Expressions

allowed.

and

radix

Example
Macro

definition:
+.MACRO

.IF

BIT_NAME

EQUAL

ARG1

;
;7

« ERROR

;

ARGl

INVALID

BIT

«ENDC

. ENDM

Macro

calls

and

BIT_NAME

expansions

BIT_NAME

ESC

.IF

12-15

EQUAL

« ERROR
« ENDC

CHECKS

ARGl

LIST

¥LOCATE (ARGl ,<DELDFWDLTDMOESC>)
~15

;

ESC

the

macro

defined

INVALID

BIT

NOT

ERROR

NAME
;

NOTHING

above:

;

LIST

;

NOT

NAME
;

MACROS
2

BIT_NAME

FOO

.IF

15-15

EQUAL

;

$MACRO-E-GENERR,

Generated

ERROR:

FOO

. ENDC

AN
;

NOT

LIST

NOT

ERROR

INVALID BIT NAME
IF

Note

If the optional symbol is specified, the
search
character
position
of
string2
specified
by

example,
the
because there

begins
at
the symbol.

value
of
%LOCATE(<ACE>,<SPACE_HOLDER>,5)
is no match after the 5th character position.

the
For
1is
12

%EXTRACT

6.1.7.3

SEXTRACT

Operator

- The

$EXTRACT

operator

extracts

substring
from a string.
It returns the substring that begins at the
specified position and is the
specified
1length.
For
example,
the
value of $EXTRACT(2,3,<ABCDEF>) is CDE.
Note that the first character
in a

string

in position

Format

$EXTRACT(symboll,symbol2,string)
Parameters

symboll

A symbol or decimal number that specifies the
starting
position
of
the
substring.
A symbol must be an absolute symbol that has
been previously defined and a number must be an unsigned
decimal
number.
Expressions and radix operators are not allowed.
symbol
2

A symbol or decimal number
that
specifies
the
1length
of
the
substring.
A
symbol
must
be an absolute symbol that has been
previously defined and a 'number
must
be
an
unsigned
decimal
number.

Expressions and

radix

operators are not

allowed.

string

A macro argument or
a
delimited
string.
The
delimited
by
angle
brackets
or
a
character

string
can
be
preceded
by
a

circumflex.
Example

Macro

XX =

definition:

RESERVE ARGl
.MACRO
$LOCATE(<=>,ARGl)
.IF EQUAL
«WARN
;
-MEXIT

. ENDC

XX-$LENGTH (ARG1)
INCORRECT FORMAT FOR MACRO CALL - ARGl

MACROS

$EXTRACT(0,XX,ARG1)
::
XX

XX+1

Macro

$EXTRACT
(XX, 3,ARG1)

- ENDM

RESERVE

calls

1.
XX

.BLKB

and

expansions

RESERVE
=

the

macro

defined

above:

FOOBAR

6
.IF

EQUAL

IMACRO-W-GENWRN,

XX-6

Generated

WARNING:

INCORRECT

FORMAT

FOR MACRO CALL

+MEXIT
2.

RESERVE
«IF

LOCATION=12

EQUAL

«WARN

;

XX-11
INCORRECT

FORMAT

FOR

MACRO

CALL

LOCATION=12

«MEXIT
« ENDC

LOCATION::

XX+1

+BLKB

Notes

If the starting position specified is greater than
or
the
1length
of
the
string,
$EXTRACT
returns a null
string of 0 characters).
If the length specified is 0,
returns a null string.

6.2

The

equal
to
string (a
$EXTRACT

MACRO DIRECTIVES

remainder

detail,

showing

directives

are

this

chapter

their

formats

presented

describes
and

giving

in alphabetical

the

macro

examples

order.

directives
their

use.

1in
The

FOOBA

MACROS

.ENDM
« ENDM--END DEFINITION DIRECTIVE

.ENDM terminates the macro definition.

for

an example of

the use of

.MACRO

See the description of

.ENDM.

Format

.ENDM

[macro-name]

Parameter
macro-—-name

The
The name of the macro whose definition is to be terminated.
but, if specified, it must match the
is optional;
name
macro
name defined in the matching .MACRO directive.
assembler
the
that
so
specified
be
should
improperly nested macro definitions.

The
can

name
macro
any
detect

Note

If .ENDM is encountered outside a macro definition, the assembler

displays

error

message.

.ENDR
« ENDR--END RANGE DIRECTIVE

.ENDR indicates the end of a repeat

range.

must

statement
of every indefinite repeat block directive
the
See
and every repeat block directive (.REPEAT).
these directives

Format
. ENDR

for examples of the use of

.ENDR.

the

final

(.IRP and « IRPC)
description of

MACROS

.IRP

« IRP-~INDEFINITE
+-IRP

replaces

specified

REPEAT ARGUMENT

formal

argument

the expansion
of
the
directive specifies the
-IRP
At

analogous

each

replaced
directive

with

list.

with

This

indefinite

end

macro

successive

replacement

repeat

the

block

repeat

with

block,

elements

from

macro

name,

-IRP

can

appear

indefinite

The

other

either

repeat

-REPEAT).

for

macros

within

block,

rules

specifying

for

described
outside

repeat

specifying

macro

arguments

occurs

during

The

.ENDR

range.

only one
this

argument.,

argument

is
argument
list.
The
within the source program,
do not require calling the
in

this

another

block

.IRP

formal

the

and
its
range are coded inline
of macro definition and its range

type

actual

process

range.

definition

the

successive

This

those

expansion

DIRECTIVE

chapter.
macro

(see

arguments

definition,

the description of
are

the

arguments.

same

Format

«IRP

symbol,<argument

list>

Parameters

symbol
A

formal

argument

specified
actual
formal argument is

that

1is

arguments
specified,

successively

replaced

with

enclosed
in angle brackets.
the
assembler
displays
an

message.

<argument

the

If no
error

list>

A list of
expanding
consist

actual arguments
the
indefinite

separated
actual

one

arguments

more
1legal
are

enclosed in angle brackets and used in
repeat range.
An actual argument can
characters;
multiple
arguments
must
be
separator

specified,

(comma,
action

space,
is

tab).

taken.

range

The

block

source

actual

definitions

and

text

argument

repeat

to
in

be
the

ranges.

repeated
list.

.MEXIT

once

for

each

The

range

can

legal

within

occurrence

contain

the

macro

range.

MACROS

Example

Macro definition:

.MACRO
.NARG
.IRP

SUBR,Al1,A2,A3,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8,A9,A10
CALL SUB
COUNT
ARG,<Al0,A9,A8,A7,A6,A5,A4,A3,A2,A1>
ARG,

+.IIF NOT_BLANK
«ENDR

;

#<COUNT-1>,SUBR

CALLS

PUSHL ARG

NOTE SUBR IS COUNTED

CALL_SUB

.ENDM

Macro call and expansion of the macro defi ed above:

CALL SUB
COUNT
.NARG

TEST,INRES,INTES,U LIS,OUTCON,#205

TES,
ARG,<,,,s,%205,0UTCON,UNLIS,ININRES>
.IRP
ARG
PUSHL
ARG,
.IIF NOT_BLANK
« ENDR

.IIF
.IIF
.IIF
.IIF

NOT_BLANK
NOT_BLANK
NOT_BLANK
NOT BLANK

.IIF NOT_BLANK

.IIF NOT BLANK
.IIF
.IIF
.IIF
.IIF

CALLS

NOT BLANK
NOT_BLANK
NOT_BLANK
NOT BLANK

,
,
,
,

PUSHL
PUSHL
PUSHL
PUSHL

#205,

PUSHL

OUTCON,
UNLIS,
INTES,
INRES,

F<COUNT-1>,TEST

PUSHL

PUSHL
PUSHL
PUSHL
PUSHL

#205

OUTCON
UNLIS
INTES
INRES

; NOTE TEST IS COUNTED

This example uses the .NARG directive to count the arguments and the
.IIF NOT_BLANK directive (see descriptions of .IF and .IIF in Chapter
If the
to determine whether the actual argument is blank.
5).
argument

is blank, no binary code

is generated.

MACROS

IRPC
« IRPC-~INDEFINITE

REPEAT

CHARACTER

DIRECTIVE

+-IRPC is similar to .IRP except that
.IRPC
permits
single-character
substitution, rather than argument substitution.
On each iteration of
the indefinite repeat range, the formal argument is replaced with
each
successive
character
in
the
specified string.
The .ENDR directive
specifies the end of the range.

.IRPC

analogous

argument.

each

macro

expansion

is replaced
with
successive
string.
The
directive
and
Source

program

other

macros

+.IRPC

can

indefinite

and

not

described

appear

either

repeat

within

calling

with

block,

characters
1its
range

this

definition

the

require

repeat block,

only

this

from
the
are coded
the

outside

block

macro

another

formal
argument

actual
argument
inline within the
by

chapter.

repeat

one

formal

name,

macro

definition,

(see description of

.REPEAT).

Format
«IRPC

symbol,<string>

« ENDR

Parameters

symbol
A
formal
specified
argument

argument

that

is
successively
replaced
with
the
enclosed
in angle brackets.
If no formal

characters
is

specified,

the

assembler

displays

error

message.

<string>
A

sequence

characters

the

enclosed

expansion of the indefinite
brackets are required only when

characters,

their

use

angle

repeat

the
recommended

brackets

range.

string
for

and

Although

contains
legibility.

used

the

angle

separating

range

The

block

of source text to be repeated once for each
occurrence
a
character
in
the
1list.
The
range
can
contain macro
definitions and repeat ranges.,
.MEXIT is legal within the range.
of

Example
Macro

Definition:
.MACRO

+.NCHR
« IRPC

HV = HV"A?CHR?

HASH_SYM

HV,<SYMBOL>
CHR,<SYMBOL>

.ENDR

. ENDM

HASH_SYM

SYMBOL

MACROS

Macro call and expansion of the macro defined above:
<MOVC5>
HASH_SYM
HV,<MOVC5>
.NCHR
CHR,<MOVC5>
.IRPC
HV+“A?CHR?

HV
HV

uwnun

.ENDR
HV

This

HV+"A?M?
HV+"A?20?
HV+"A?2V?
HV+"A?C?
HV+"A?5?

example

characters

uses

in actual

the

.NCHR

argument.

directive

count

the

number

MACROS

.LIBRARY
« LIBRARY--MACRO
-LIBRARY

adds

searched

libraries
specified

LIBRARY DIRECTIVE
a

name

whenever

are
to

.MCALL

the
or

searched
the

in
assembler.

VAX-11
an

the

MACRO

undefined

reverse

library

opcode

order

1list

that

encountered.

which

they

is
The

were

If the programmer omits any information
from
the
macro-library-name
argument,
default
values
are
assumed.
The device defaults to the
user's disk;
the directory defaults to the user's directo
ry;
and the
file type defaults to MLB.
DIGITAL

recommends

line
with
directive.

the
The

that

libraries

specified

the

MACRO

command

/LIBRARY
qualifier
rather
than
with
the .LIBRARY
.LIBRARY directive makes moving files cumbersome.

Format
-.LIBRARY

macro-library-name

Parameter

macro-library-name
A delimited

library.

string

that

the

file

specification

Example
.LIBRARY

/DBl:[TEST]USERM/

.LIBRARY

?DBl:SYSDEF.MLB?

.LIBRARY

\CURRENT.MLB\

;

MACRO

LIBRARY

USERM.MLB

macro

MACROS

.MACRO
«MACRO--MACRO DEFINITION DIRECTIVE

.MACRO begins the definition of a macro.

and

It gives the macro name

If the name specified
a list of formal arguments (see Section 6.1).
is the same as the name of a previously defined macro, the previous
The .MACRO
replaced with the new one.
definition is deleted and
directive is followed by the source text to be included in the macro
expansion.

The .ENDM directive specifies the end of the range.

Macro names do not conflict with user-defined symbols.
user-defined symbol can both have the same name.

A macro and

When the assembler encounters a .MACRO directive, it adds the macro
its macro name table and stores the source text of the macro
to
name
No other ©processing occurs
(up to the matching .ENDM directive).
until

the macro

is expanded.

The symbols in the formal argument list are associated with the macro
to the scope of the definition of that macro.
1limited
are
and
name

argument

list

this name can be any

legal

the

actual

For this reason, the symbols that appear in the formal

can also appear elsewhere

in the program.

Format

.MACRO macro-name

.ENDM

[formal-argument-list]

[macro name]

Parameters
macro-name

The name of the macro to be defined;
symbol

up to

15 characters long.

formal-argument-list

The symbols, separated by commas, to be replaced

arguments in the macro call.
range

The source text to be included in the macro expansion.

MACROS

Example
Macro

definition:

MYSYM=

.MACRO

USERDEF

.PSECT

DEFS,ABS

HIVAL=

"XFFF123

LOWVAL=

.PSECT

RWDATA,NOEXE,LONG

TABLE:

.BLKL

100

LIST:

.BLKB

.MACRO

USERDEF

.ENDM

USERDEF

- ENDM

USERDEF

Macro

calls

and

;

expansions

USERDF

;

.PSECT

MYSYM=

the

SHOULD

NULL

above:

5§

“XFFF123
0
.PSECT

RWDATA,NOEXE,LONG

TABLE:

BLKL

100

LIST:

-BLKB

.MACRO

USERDEF

«ENDM

USERDEF

the

EXPAND DATA

LOWVAL=

defined

DEFS,ABS

HIVAL=

USERDF

this

some

macro

REDEFINE

macro

source

;

example,

symbols

;

when

SHOULD

the macro

and

data

called

second

EXPAND NOTHING

storage

REDEFINE

called

areas

time,

the

and

the

first

then

time

redefines

macro

defines

itself.

When

expansion

contains

VAX-11/780

opcode,

the

text.

Notes

1If

macro

has

macro

used

allows

macro

same

has

name

instead

programmer

If a macro
a

the

library,

the

temporarily

same
the

name

,MCALL

redefine

VAX-11/780

directive

the macro.
Otherwise, because the
(as
the
opcode),
the
assembler
libraries.,
3.

instruction.

must

symbol is
will not

This

opcode.

opcode
be

feature

used

and
to

define

already
defined
search the macro

The programmer can redefine a
macro
with
new
source
text
during
assembly by specifying a second .MACRO directive with
the same name.
Including a second
.MACRO
directive
within

the
original macro definition causes the first macro call to
redefine the macro.
This is useful
when
a
macro
performs
initialization
or
defines
symbols;
that
1is,
when
an
operation is performed only once.
The macro redefinition can
eliminate
unneeded
source
text in a macro or it can delete
the entire macro.
The .MDELETE
directive
provides
another

way

delete

macros.

MACROS

-MCALL
«MCALL--MACRO CALL DIRECTIVE

+MCALL specifies the names of the system
and/or
user-defined
that
are
required to assemble the source program but are not
in the source file.

macros
defined

If any named macro is not found upon completion of
the
search
(that
is,
1f
the
macro is not defined in any of the macro libraries), the
assembler displays an error message.
Format

«MCALL macro-name-list
Parameter

macro-name-list
A list of macros to be defined
be separated by commas.

for

this

assembly.

The

names

must

INSQUE

SUBSTITUTE

+MCALL

LIBRARY

Example
MACRO

INSTRUCTION

FOR

INSQUE

Note

+MCALL

provided

recommends

that

unknown symbol in
macro
libraries.

for
it

not
error

used.

with

expands

find
the
message.

.MCALL must be used:
when a
(see description of .MACRO).

When

MACRO-11;

the macro

unknown
There
1is

macro

has

VAX-11]

DIGITAL

an
the opcode field, it automatically searches all
If
it finds the symbol in a library, it uses

the macro definition and
MACRO
does
displays an

compatibility

not

MACRO

reference.

symbol
in
the
one
exception

the

same

name

finds

VAX-11

library, it
for
which

opcode

MACROS

.MDELETE
«MDELETE-~MACRO

DELETION

DIRECTIVE

.MDELETE deletes the definitions of specified macros.
The
macros actually deleted is printed in the assembly listing
line as the .MDELETE directive,

number
of
on the same

.MDELETE completely deletes the macro, freeing
memory
as
necessary,
whereas
the
technique
of
macro
redefinition
explained
1in
the
description of .MACRO merely redefines the macro.
Format

.MDELETE macro-name-list
Parameter

macro-name-list
A list of macros whose definitions
must be separated by commas.

Example

.MDELETE

USERDEF, $SSDEF,ALTR

are

deleted.

The

names

MACROS

MEXIT
+MEXIT--MACRO

EXIT DIRECTIVE

+.MEXIT terminates a macro expansion
before
the
end
of
the
macro.
Termination
is
the
same as if .ENDM was encountered.
The directive
can also be used within repeat
blocks.
.MEXIT
1is
most
wuseful
in
conditional
expansion
of macros because it bypasses the complexities

nested

conditional

directives

and

alternate

assembly paths.

Format

«MEXIT

Example
«.MACRO

ALTR

+.IF

;

START

+MEXIT

;

TERMINATE

«ENDC

;

END

;

NORMAL

- ENDM

this

equals

N,A,B

ALTR

example,

conditional

expansion

the

would

the

actual

terminated

argument
block

CONDITIONAL

MACRO
CONDITIONAL

END

for

would

the

ASSEMBLY

BLOCK.

EXPANSION.
ASSEMBLY BLOCK.

MACRO.

formal

assembled,

argument
and

the

macro

.MEXIT.

Notes

When

.MEXIT
occurs
in
a
repeat
block,
the
terminates the current repetition of the range and
further expansion of the repeat range.

When macros
next higher

repeat blocks are
level of expansion.

.MEXIT occurs

block,

the

outside

assembler

displays

nested,

macro
an

.MEXIT

definition

error

message.

assembler

suppresses

exits

the

repeat

MACROS

.NARG
+NARG-~NUMBER

OF ARGUMENTS

DIRECTIVE

.NARG determines the number of arguments in the current macro call.
.NARG counts all

the positional arguments specified

including

arguments

in the macro call,

The value
(specified by adjacent commas).
any
keyword
assigned to the specified symbol does not include either
arguments or any formal arguments that have default values.
null

Format

symbol

«NARG
Parameter

symbol

A symbol that
1s
assigned
arguments in the macro call.

value

equal

the

number

Example

Macro definition:

.MACRO

CNT ARG Al,A2,A3,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8,A9=DEF9,A10=DEF10

«WORD

COUNTER

.ENDM

CNT_ARG

«NARG

COUNTER

Macro calls and

: COUNTER IS SET

;

expansions of

STORE

VALUE

TO NO.

OF ARGS

OF COUNTER

the macro defined above:

CNT_ARG
« NARG
«WORD

TEST,FIND,ANS
COUNTER
COUNTER

;
;
;

3
COUNTER WILL
COUNTER IS SET TO NO. OF ARGS
STORE VALUE OF COUNTER

CNT_ARG
«NARG

COUNTER

;
;

COUNTER WILL
COUNTER IS SET

«WORD

COUNTER

;

STORE VALUE

CNT_ARG
«NARG

TEST,A2=SYMB2,A3=5Y3
COUNTER

;
;

COUNTER WILL
COUNTER IS SET

«WORD

COUNTER

;

STORE VALUE

;

KEYWORD ARGUMENTS

0
TO

NO.

OF ARGS

OF COUNTER
1
TO

NO.

ARGS

OF COUNTER

CNT_ARG

,SYMBL,,

;

COUNTER WILL

« NARG

COUNTER

;

COUNTER

-WORD

COUNTER

;

STORE

;

NULL

SET

VALUE

ARGUMENTS

ARE

NOT

NO.

COUNTED

ARGS

COUNTER

ARE

COUNTED

Note

If
an

.NARG
error

appears

outside of

message.

macro,

the

assembler

displays

MACROS

.NCHR
«NCHR--NUMBER

OF CHARACTERS

DIRECTIVE

.NCHR determines the number of characters
in
a
specified
character
string.
It
can
appear
anywhere
1in
a VAX-1ll MACRO program and is
useful in calculating the length of macro arguments.

Format
.NCHR

symbol,<string>

Parameters

symbol

A symbol that
characters in

assigned

the

specified

wvalue

character

equal

the

number

string.

<string>
must

delimited
by
angle
brackets
or
a
character
preceded
by
circumflex only if the
specified
character
string
contains
legal separator (comma, space, and/or tab) or a semicolon.

sequence

printable

characters.

The

character

string

a
a

Example

calls

and

CHAR

expansions

the

macro

<HELLO>

.NCHR

CHRCNT,<HELLO>

.WORD

CHRCNT

.ASCII

/HELLO/

CHAR

<14,

«NCHR

CHRCNT,<14,

75.39

«WORD

CHRCNT

+ASCII

/14,

75.39

4>
75.39

CHAR

/MESS/

.ASCII
. ENDM

STORE

VALUE

CHRCNT

DEFINE
ASSIGN

STORE

CHARACTERS

+WORD

MESS

FINISH

defined

CHRCNT

above:

CHRCNT WILL

ASSIGN
STORE

VALUE

STORE

CHARACTERS

;
4>

MACRO
VALUE

“o

CHAR

CHRCNT ,<MESS>

Wme

+.MACRO
« NCHR

Macro

definition:

Macro

VALUE

CHRCNT

;

CHRCNT WILL = 12(DEC)
ASSIGN VALUE TO CHRCNT

;

STORE

VALUE

STORE

CHARACTERS

MACROS

.NTYPE
«NTYPE--OPERAND TYPE

DIRECTIVE

.NTYPE determines the addressing mode

the specified operand.

The value of the symbol is set to the specified addressing
mode.
In
most cases, an 8-bit (l-byte) value is returned.
Bits 0 through 3 are
the register associated with the mode, and bits 4 through
7
are
the
addressing
mode.
To provide concise addressing information, the mode
bits 4 through 7 are not exactly the same as the numeric value of
the
addressing mode described in Table 4-1.
Specifically, literal mode is
indicated by a 0 in bits 4 through 7 instead of the values 0 through 3
described
in
Table 4-1.
Mode 1 indicates an immediate mode operand,
mode 2 indicates an absolute mode operand,
and
mode
3
indicates
a
general

mode

operand.

For indexed addressing mode, a 16-bit (2-byte) value is returned.
The
high-order
byte
contains
the
addressing
mode
of the base operand
specifier and the low-order byte contains the addressing mode
of
the
primary operand (the index register).

See

the

for

VAX-11/780 Architecture
information

Handbook or

addressing

Chapter

4 of

this

manual

modes.

Format

.NTYPE

symbol ,operand

Parameter

symbol

Any legal VAX-11 MACRO symbol.
This symbol is assigned
a
value
equal to the 8- or 16-bit addressing mode of the operand argument
that

follows.

operand

Any legal address expression, as used
argument is specified, 0 is assumed.

with

opcode,

Example
Definition:

“e

ADDRESS AND,
AND GENERATES

IF NOT,

THE MACRO SIMPLY PUSHES THE ARGUMENT ON THE

A WARNING

STACK

MESSAGE.

Wwe
W

THE FOLLOWING MACRO IS USED TO PUSH AN ADDRESS ON THE STACK.
1IT CHECKS
THE OPERAND TYPE (BY USING .NTYPE) TO DETERMINE IF THE OPERAND IS AN

Macro

«MACRO

A =

.NTYPE
A@-4&"XF

.IF

PUSHADR

ADDR

A,ADDR

;
;

IDENTICAL 0,<ADDR>

PUSHL

JMEXIT

ASSIGNS OPERAND TYPE TO A
ISOLATE ADDRESSING MODE

IS ARGUMENT EXACTLY

;

STACK

;

EXIT FROM MACRO

ZERO

. ENDC
W

»IIF

LESS_EQUAL A-1l,

ERR=1

ERR

ERR
ERR
IS

TELLS IF MODE IS
= 0 FOR ADDRESS,
MODE

NOT

LITERAL

ADDRESS
1 WHEN NOT
OR

IMMEDIATE

PUSHAL

ERR=1

ERR

ADDR

.IFF
PUSHL

ADDR

-WARN

;

ADDR

NOT

ADDRESS

the

macro

A-5,

MODE

NOT

MODE

ADDRESS?

EQUAL
EQUAL

YES,

.IF

TMy

.IIF

MACROS

THEN

STACK

ADDRESS

STACK

OPERAND

WARN

. ENDC

. ENDM

calls

expansions

PUSHADR

(RO)

PUSHAL

(RO)

YES,

PUSHADR

(R1) [R4]

;

VALID ARGUMENT

PUSHAL

(R1) [R4]

;

YES,

PUSHADR

;

STACK

;
;

NOT AN ADDRESS
THEN STACK OPERAND

#1
$#1
Generated

PUSHADR

PUSHL

that

program.

WARNING:

space,

not

WARNING:

this

,SHOW

example

ZERO

NOT AN

NOT AN ADDRESS

THEN

STACK

listed
was

& WARN

ADDRESS

NOT AN ADDRESS

EXPANSIONS,

ZERO

;

Generated

save

BINARY,

ADDRESS

;

¥MACRO-W-GENWRN,

.SHOW

STACK

ADDRESS

¥MACRO-W-GENWRN,

Note

ARGUMENT

STACK

PUSHADR
PUSHL

above:

VALID

PUSHL

defined
e

and

Macro

PUSHADR

OPERAND

would

specified

1in

WARN

appear
the

source

MACROS

.REPEAT
«REPEAT--REPEAT BLOCK DIRECTIVE

.REPEAT repeats a block of code, a specified number of
times,
inline
with
other source code.
The .ENDR directive specifies the end of the
range.

Format

.REPEAT expression

« ENDR
Parameters

expression

An expression whose value controls the number of times the
range
is
to
be
assembled within the program.
When the expression is
less than or equal to 0, the repeat block is not assembled.
The
expression
must not contain any undefined symbols and must be an
absolute expression (see Section 3.5).
range

The source text to be repeated the number of times
specified
by
the
value of the expression.
The repeat block can contain macro
definitions, indefinite repeat blocks, or
other
repeat
blocks.
.MEXIT is legal within the range.
Example
Macro

definition:
+MACRO
«REPEAT

COPIES
NUM

.ASCII

/STRING/

STRING,NUM

« ENDR

«BYTE

. ENDM

COPIES

Macro calls and
1,

expansions of

COPIES

<ABCDEF>,5
.REPEAT 5
.ASCII
/ABCDEF/
« ENDR

.ASCII
.ASCII
.ASCII
.ASCII
.ASCII
.BYTE

/ABCDEF/
/ABCDEF/
/ABCDEF/
/ABCDEF/
/ABCDEF/
0

the macro defined above:

MACROS
.

2.
VARB

COPIES

<HOW MANY

.REPEAT

TIMES>,\VARB

.ASCII

/HOW MANY TIMES/

« ENDR

.ASCII
+.ASCII
.ASCII

/HOW MANY TIMES/
/HOW MANY TIMES/
/HOW MANY TIMES/

.BYTE

Note

The

alternate

form of

.REPEAT

.REPT.

APPENDIX

ASCII

Table
each.

A-1

lists

the ASCII

CHARACTER SET

characters

Table

and

the

hexadecimal

code

A-1

Hexadecimal /ASCII

Conversion

HEX

ASCII

HEX

ASCII

HEX

ASCII

HEX

ASCII

Code

Char.

Code

Char.

Code

Char.

Code

Char.

—

m——

e
ee
e—

00
01
02
03
04

NUL
SOH
STX
ETX
EOT

20
21
22
23
24

SP
!
"
#
S

40
41
42
43
44

@
A
B

05
06

ENQ
ACK

25
26

%
&

45
46

07
08
09
0A
0B

BEL
BS
HT
LF
VT

27
28
29
2A
2B

'
(
)
*
+

47
48
49
4A
4B

0cC

’

oD
OE

CR
SO

2D
2E

DLE

12
13
14

DC1
DC2
DC3
DC4

31
32
33
34

1
2
3
4

52
53
54

NAK

SYN

17
18
19
1A

ETB
CAN
EM
SUB

37
38
39
3A

1B
1C
1D

ESC
FS
GS

3B
3C
3D

60
61
62
63
64

\
a
b
C
d

E
F

G
H
I
J
K

67
68
69
6A
6B

f
g
h
i
j
k

4D
4E

M
N

6D
6E

m
n

Q
R
S
T

72
73
74

r
s
t

\Y/

7
8
9
:

57
58
59
5A

W
X
Y
Z

77
78
79
7A

w
X
y
pA

;
<

5B
5C
5D

[
\

7B
7C
7D

{
|
}

DEL

=
>
?

5E
5F

C
D

]
—_

for

APPENDIX

VAX-11 MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND LANGUAGE SUMMARY

B.1

The

ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

following

table

summarizes

the

VAX-11

MACRO assembler

directives.

Table B-1
Assembler Directives

Format

Operation

.ADDRESS

address-list

Stores
address

+ALIGN

keyword

[,expression]

Aligns

successive

the

location

the boundary
keyword
.ALIGN

integer

[,expression]

Aligns

longwords

counter

specified

string

Stores

the ASCII

(enclosed

string

Stores

the

string

Stores

the

(27integer)

string

count

ASCII

delimiters),
descriptor
+ASCII

the

string

in delimiters),

preceded by
.ASCID

location counter

boundary specified by
.ASCIC

data

byte

(enclosed

preceded by

the ASCII

string

(enclosed

in delimiters)
.ASCIZ

string

Stores

the

ASCII

in delimiters)
byte.

.BLKA expression

’

string

followed

(enclosed

Reserves longwords of address
data

.BLKB

expression

.BLKD expression

Reserves bytes

for

data

Reserves quadwords

double-precision,
data

for

floating-point

(continued

on next page)

VAX-11

MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Table B-1 (Cont.)
Assembler Directives

Operation

Format

.BLKF expression

Reserves

longwords

single-precision,

for

floating-point

data

.BLKL expression

Reserves

longwords

for

data

.BLKQ expression

Reserves gquadwords

for

data

.BLKW expression

Reserves words

data

.BYTE expression-list

Generates successive bytes of
data;
each byte contains the
value of the specified expression

.CROSS

Enables

for

cross-referencing

all

symbols

.CROSS

symbol-list

Cross-references

specified

symbols

.DEBUG

symbol-list

.DEFAULT

DISPLACEMENT,

.DISABLE

argument-list

.DOUBLE

Makes symbol
debugger
keyword

literal-list

names

known

Disables function(s)
argument-list
Generates

specified

floating-point

Equivalent

.DISABLE

.ENABL argument-list

Equivalent

.ENABLE

Enables function(s)
argument-list

[macro-name]

« ENDR

.ENTRY symbol

specified

Indicates logical end of source
program;
optional symbol
specifies transfer address

[symbol]

. ENDC

.ENDM

8-byte,

.DSABL argument-list

.END

the

Specifies the default
,
displacement length for the
relative addressing modes

double-precision,
data

argument-list

[,expression]

Indicates end of
assembly block

conditional

Indicates

end

macro

Indicates

end

repeat

Procedure

entry directive

(continued

definition
block

page)

VAX-11 MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Table B~-1 (Cont.)
Assembler Directives

Format

.ERROR

Operation

[expression]

j;comment

+.EVEN

Displays
Ensures
counter

if
.EXTERNAL

.EXTRN

specified

symbol-list

+FLOAT literal-list

symbol-list

message

that the current location
has an even value (adds 1

odd)

Indicates specified
externally defined
Equivalent
Generates

symbols

are

.EXTERNAL

4-byte,

single-precision,
data
.GLOBAL

error

floating point

Indicates specified
symbols

symbols

are

global
. GLOBL

Equivalent

+IDENT string

Provides means of labeling object
module with additional data

.IF condition

argument
(s)

.GLOBAL

Begins a conditional assembly
block of source code which is
included in the assembly only if
the stated condition is met with
respect

the

argument
(s)

specified
. IFF

Equivalent

.IF_FALSE

Appears only within a conditional
assembly block;
begins block of
code to be assembled if the
original condition tests false

«IFT

Equivalent

.IF_TRUE

«IFTF

Equivalent

.IF_TRUE_FALSE

.IF_TRUE

Appears

only

.IF_FALSE

within

conditional

assembly block;
begins block of
code to be assembled if the
original condition tests true
.IF_TRUE_FALSE

Appears only within a conditional
assembly block;
begins block of
code to be assembled
unconditionally
(continued

page)

VAX-11 MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND LANGUAGE SUMMARY
Table

B- 1

Assembler

(Cont.)

Directives

Operation

Format

fi=
.IIF condition argument(s),
statement

Acts

l1-1line

conditional

assembly block where the
condition is tested for the
the
argument specified;

statement is assembled only if
the condition tests true

.IRP

symbol,

Replaces a formal argument with
successive actual

arguments

specified in an argument list

.IRPC symbol,

Replaces a formal argument with
successive single characters
specified ‘in string

.LIBRARY macro-library-name

Specifies a macro library

.LIST

Equivalent to

[argument-list]

.LONG expression-list

.SHOW

Generates successive longwords of
each longword contains the
data;
value of the specified
expression.

.MACRO macro-name argument-list

Begins a macro definition

.MASK symbol

Reserves a word for and copies a

[,expression]

.MCALL macro-name-list

Specifies the system and/or
user-defined macros in libraries
that are required to assemble the
source

.MDELETE macro-name-list

save mask

Deletes

program

from memory the macro

definitions of the macros in the
list

Exits from the expansion of a
macro before the end of the macro

«MEXIT

is
.NARG

symbol

encountered

Determines the number of
arguments in the current macro
call

.NCHR symbol,<string>

Determines the number of
characters in a specified
character string

.NLIST

Equivalent

[argument-list]

.NOCROSS

.NOSHOW

Disables cross-referencing of all
symbols

(continued on next page)

VAX-11 MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Table B- 1l (Cont.)
Assembler Directives

Operation

Format

.NOCROSS

Disables cross-referencing of
specified symbols

symbol-list

- NOSHOW

Decrements

.NOSHOW argument-list

Controls listing of macros and
conditional assembly blocks

.NTYPE

Can appear only within a macro
definition;
equates the symbol
to the addressino mode of the
specified operand

symbol ,operand

listing

level

count

Ensures that the current location

.ODD

counter has an odd value
if it is even)

Defines an opcode
operand list

.OPDEF opcode value,
operand~descriptor-list

. PACKED decimal-string

[,symbol]

. PAGE

and

(adds

data,

its

Generates packed decimal
digits per byte

Causes the assembly listing to
skip to the top of the next page,
and to increment the page count

. PRINT [expression] }comment

Displays the

specified message

- PSECT

Begins or resumes the blank
program section

.PSECT section-name
argument-list

Begins or resumes a user-defined
program section

.QUAD literal

Stores

8-bytes

of data

.QUAD

symbol

Stores

8-bytes

of data

.REF1

operand

Generates byte

operand

«REF2

operand

Generates word operand

.REF4

operand

Generates

.REF8

operand

Generates quadword operand

longword operand

.REPEAT expression

the
Begins a repeat block;
section of code up to the next
.ENDR directive is repeated the
number of times specified by the
expression

«REPT

Equivalent

.REPEAT

(continued on next page)

VAX-11

MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Table B-1 (Cont.)
Assembler Directives

Format

Operation

. RESTORE

Equivalent

.RESTORE_PSECT

Restores program section
from the program section
stack

.SAVE

Equivalent

[LOCAL_BLOCK]

-SAVE_PSECT

[LOCAL_BLOCK]

.RESTORE_PSECT
context
context

.SAVE_ PSECT

Saves current program section
context on the program section
context stack

.SBTTL comment~string

Equivalent

. SHOW

Increments

listing

.SHOW argument-list

Controls listing of macros and
conditional assembly blocks

.SIGNED BYTE

expression-list

Stores successive bytes
of signed data

-.SIGNED_WORD

expression-list

Stores successive words
of signed data

(16

.SUBTITLE
level

count

bits)

.SUBTITLE comment-string

Causes the specified string to be
printed as part of the assembly
listing page header;
the string
component of each .SUBTITLE is
collected into a table of
contents at the beginning of the
assembly listing

.TITLE module-name

Assigns the first 15 characters
the string as an object module
name and causes the string to
appear on each page of the
assembly listing

comment-string

.TRANSFER symbol

.WARN

[expression]

Directs the linker to redefine
the value of the global symbol
for use in a shareable image
j;comment

Displays

specified

warning

message

.WEAK symbol-list

Indicates that each of the listed
symbols has the weak attribute

.WORD expression-list

Generates successive words of
data;
each word contains the
value of the corresponding
specified expression

VAX-11 MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND LANGUAGE SUMMARY

B.2

The

SPECIAL CHARACTERS

following

table

summarizes

the

VAX-11

Table

Special

Character

Characters

Character

Used

MACRO special

characters.

B-2

VAX-11

MACRO Statements

Name

Function
(s)

Underline

Character

symbol

names

Dollar

Character

in symbol

names

Period

Character

names,

sign

symbol

current location counter,
decimal point
:

Colon

Equal

Label

sign

terminator

Direct

assignment

macro

keyword

Tab

Field

terminator

Space

Field

terminator

Number sign

and

operator

argument

and

terminator

Immediate addressing mode
indicator

sign

Deferred addressing mode
indicator and arithmetic

shift

operator

’

Comma

Field,

operand,

and

item

separator

;

Semicolon

Comment

Plus

Autoincrement

sign

field

indicator
addressing

mode

indicator, unary plus operator,
and arithmetic addition operator
-

Minus

sign

Autodecrement

indicator,
arithmetic
and

Asterisk

line

addressing

mode

unary minus operator,
subtraction operator,

continuation

indicator

Arithmetic multiplication
operator

Slash

Arithmetic division operator

Ampersand

Logical

AND

Exclamation
point

Logical

inclusive

operator

OR operator

(continued on next page)

VAX-11 MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND LANGUAGE SUMMARY
B-2

Table

(Cont.)

Special Characters Used in VAX-1l MACRO Statements

(s)
Function

Character Name

Character

Logical exclusive OR and numeric

Backslash

conversion indicator

in macro

arguments

Unary operator indicator and

Circumflex

[]

Square brackets

()

Parentheses

Angle brackets

Argument or expression grouping

Question mark

Created label indicator in macro

Apostrophe

Macro argument concatenation

Percent sign

Macro string operators

B.3

macro argument delimiter

Index addressing mode and repeat

count

indicators

delimiters

arguments

indicator

OPERATORS

Unary Operators

B.3.1

The following table summarizes the VAX-1l MACRO unary operators.
Table B-3
Unary Operators

Unary

Operator

Effect

Example

Name

Plus sign

Minus sign

-A

Results in the positive

value of A

(default)

Results in the negative
(2's complement)

value

of A

“B

Binary

“B11000111

Specifies that 11000111

is a binary number

(continued on next page)

VAX-11 MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Table

B-3

Unary

Operator

Name

(Cont.)

Operators

Example

Decimal

Effect

D127

Specifies that
decimal

Octal

034

Specifies that
octal

Hexadecimal

“XFCF9

ASCII

34 is an

number

Specifies that FCF9 is
a

“A

127 is a

number

“A/ABC/

hexadecimal

number

Produces an ASCII
string;
the characters
between the matching
delimiters are
converted

ASCII

representation

“M<R3,R4,R5> | Specifies the registers
R3,

R4, and RS
register mask

°F

Floating point

“F3.0

Complement

“Cc24

the

Specifies that

3.0 is a

floating-point

number

Produces the 1l's
complement

value

(decimal)

B.3.2
The

Binary Operators

following

table

summarizes

the

VAX-11l

Table

B-4

MACRO binary

operators.

Binary Operators

Binary

Operator

Name

Example

Operation

=
+

Plus

Minus

sign

A+B

Addition

A-B

Subtraction

Asterisk

A*B

Multiplication

Slash

A/B

Division

sign

A@B

Arithmetic

Ampersand

A&B

Logical

AND

Exclamation point

A!B

Logical

inclusive

Backslash

A\B

Logical

exclusive

sign

Shift

VAX-11 MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND LANGUAGE SUMMARY
B.3.3

Macro String Operators

The following table summarizes

the

operators can be used only in macros.
Table

Macro

String

macro

string

$LOCATE (stringl,string2[,symbol])

Operators

Function
Returns the length of the

string

Locates the substring

stringl within string2
starting the search at the
character position specified
by

$EXTRACT (symboll,symbol2,string)

These

B-5

Format
$LENGTH (string)

operators.

symbol

Extracts a substring from

string that begins at

character position specified
by symboll and has a length
specified by symbol2

B.4

ADDRESSING MODES

The following table summarizes the VAX-11 MACRO addressing modes.

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VAX-11 MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND LANGUAGE SUMMARY

B-11

VAX-11 MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND LANGUAGE SUMMARY

B-12

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VAX-11 MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND LANGUAGE SUMMARY

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VAX-11 MACRO ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES AND LANGUAGE

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SUMMARY

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APPENDIX C

PERMANENT

SYMBOL T2 iLE

The permanent symbol table (PST)
contains
the
symbols
that
VAX-11
MACRO automatically recognizes.
These symbols consist of both opcodes
and assembler directives.
Sections C.1
and
C.2
below
present
the
opcodes
(instruction
set)
in
alphabetical
and
numerical
order,
respectively.
Appendix B (in
Section
B.l)
presents
the
assembler
directives.
The VAX-11/780 Architecture
of the instruction set.

C.1

OPCODES

Hexadecimal
Value

Handbook

provides

detailed

description

(ALPHABETIC ORDER)

Mnemonic

Functional

Name

ACBB

Add

compare

and

branch

byte

6F
4F
Fl

ACBD
ACBF
ACBL

Add
Add
Add

compare
compare
compare

and
and
and

branch
branch
branch

double
floating
long

3D
58
80
81

ACBW
ADAWI
ADDB2
ADDB3

Add
Add
Add
Add

compare and branch word
aligned word interlocked
byte 2 operand
byte 3 operand

60
61
40
41

ADDD2
ADDD3
ADDF2
ADDF3

Add double 2 operand
Add double 3 operand
Add floating 2 operand
Add floating 3 operand

Cco

ADDL2

Add

Cl
20
21

ADDL3
ADDP4
ADDP6

Add long 3
Add packed
Add packed

AQ
Al
D8
F3
F2
78
F8

ADDW2
ADDW3
ADWC
AOBLEQ
AOBLSS
ASHL
ASHP

Add word 2 operand
Add word 3 operand
Add with carry
Add one and branch on less or equal
Add one and branch on less
Arithmetic shift long
Arithmetic shift and round packed

79
El

ASHQ
BBC

Arithmetic shift quad
Branch on bit clear

E5
E7
E3

BBCC
BBCCI
BBCS

Branch
Branch
Branch

on
on
on

bit
bit
bit

clear
clear
clear

BBS

Branch

bit

set

long

2 operand
operand
4 operand
6 operand

and
and
and

clear
clear
set

interlocked

PERMANENT SYMBOL TABLE

Hexadecimal
Value
Mnemonic

Functional

Name

on
on

E4
E2

BBSC
BBSS

Branch
Branch

bit
bit

set
set

and
and

clear
set

BBSSI

Branch on bit

set

and

set

1E
1F
13

BCC
BCS
BEQL

Branch on carry clear
Branch on carry set
Branch on equal

BGTR

Branch

BGTRU

Branch on greater

BICB2

Bit

clear

8B
CA
CB
B9
AA
AB
88

BICB3
BICL2
BICL3
BICPSW
BICW2
BICW3
BISB2

Bit
Bit
Bit
Bit
Bit
Bit
Bit

clear byte 3 operand
clear long 2 operand
clear long 3 operand
clear program status word
clear word 2 operand
clear word 3 operand
set byte 2 operand

89
Cc8

A8
A9
93
D3

BISB3
BISL2
BISL3
BISPSW
BISW2
BISW3
BITB
BITL

Bit set byte 3 operand
Bit set long 2 operand
Bit set long 3 operand
Bit set program status word
Bit set word 2 operand
Bit set word 3 operand
Bit test byte
Bit test 1long

BITW

Bit

E9
E8
15
1B
19
1F
12

BLBC
BLBS
BLEQ
BLEQU
BLSS
BLSSU
BNEQ

test word
Branch on low bit clear
Branch on low bit set
Branch on less or equal
Branch on less or equal
Branch on less
Branch on less unsigned
Branch on not equal

12
03
11
31
10
30
1C
1D

BNEQU
BPT
BRB
BRW
BSBB
BSBW

Branch on not equal unsigned
Break point trap
Branch with byte displacement
Branch with word displacement
Branch to subroutine with byte displacement
Branch to subroutine with word displacement

BVC
BVS

Branch
Branch

13
18
1E

BEQLU
BGEQ
BGEQU

interlocked

Branch on equal unsigned
Branch on greater or equal
Branch on greater or equal
on

unsigned

greater

byte

unsigned
operand

unsigned

on overflow clear
on overflow set

CALLG

Call with general

FB
8F
CF
AF

CALLS
CASEB
CASEL
CASEW

Call with
Case byte
Case long
Case word

CHME

Change mode

executive

CHMK

Change

mode

kernel

CHMS

Change mode

supervisor

CHMU

Change

user

CLRB

Clear

mode

byte

argument list

stack

’

PERMANENRT SYMBOL TABLE

Hexadecimal
Value
7C
DF
D4

CLRD
CLRF
CLRL

CLRQ
CLRW
CMPB

29
2D
71
51

CMPC3
CMPC5
CMPD
CMPF

CMPL

35
37

CMPP3
CMPP4

7C
B4

Functional

Mnemonic

Name

d ouble
£ loat
1 ong
q uad
w ord
Compare byte

Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear

Compare
Compare

character
character

3 operand
5 operand

Compare
Compare
Compare

double

Compare

CMPV

Compare
Compare

packed
packed
field

CMPW

Compare

word

CMPZV

Compare

zero-extended

0B
6C

CRC
CVTBD

4C
98
99
68

CVTBF
CVTBL
CVTBW
CVTDB

byte to long
byte to word
Convert double to byte

76
6A
69
48

CVTDF

Convert

double to

CVTDL
CVTDW
CVTFB

Convert

56
4A
49

CVTFD
CVTFL
CVTFW

Convert
Convert
Convert

CVTLB

Convert

double to long
double to word
float to byte
float to double
float to long
float to word
long to byte

6E
4E

CVTLD
CVTLF

Convert

CVTLP

CVTLW

Convert
Convert

36
08
24

Convert

CVTPL
CVTPS
CVTPT
CVTRDL

4B
09
26
33
6D
4D
32
97

CVTRFL
CVTSP
CVTTP
CVTWB
CVTWD
CVTWF
CVTWL
DECB

Convert

Decreme nt

byte

D7
B7

DECL
DECW

Decreme nt

long
word

86
87
66

DIVB2
DIVB3
DIVD2

46
47

DIVD3

DIVF2
DIVF3

floating
long

3 operand
4 operand

field

Calcula te cyclic redundancy
Convert byte to double
Convert byte to float

check

Convert

Convert
Convert

Convert

Convert
Convert

Convert

Convert
Convert
Convert

Convert

Convert
Convert

float

long to double
long to float
long to packed
long to word
packed to long
packed to leading separate
packed to trailing
rounded double to long
rounded float to long
leading separate to packed
trailing to packed
word to byte
word to double
word to float
word to long

Decreme nt

Divide byte 2 operand
Divide byte 3 operand
Divide double 2 operand
Divide double 3 operand
Divide floating 2 operand
Divide floating 3 operand

PERMANENT SYMBOL TABLE

Hexadecimal
Value

coé

DIVL2

C7
27

DIVL3
DIVP

A6
A7

DIVW2
DIVW3

EDITPC
EDIV
EMODD

54
7A

EMODF
EMUL

EXTV

EXTZV

Functional

Mnemonic

Name

Divide long 2 operand
Divide long 3 operand
Divide packed
Divide word 2 operand
Divide word 3 operand
Edit packed to character
Extended divide
Extended modulus double

FFC

FFS

Extended modulus floating
Extended multiply
Extract field
Extract zero-extended field
Find first clear bit
Find first set bit

00
96

HALT
INCB

Halt
Increment

D6
B6

INCL
INCW

Increment long
Increment word

INDEX

0OE

INSQUE

Index calculation
Insert into queue
Insert field

byte

INSV

17
16
06

JMP
JSB
LDPCTX

Jump

3A
39
92
D2
B2

LOCC
MATCHC
MCOMB
MCOML
MCOMW

Locate character
Match characters
Move complemented byte
Move complemented long
Move complemented word

MFPR

Move

from processor

8E
72

MNEGB
MNEGD

Move
Move

negated
negated

Jump to subroutine
Load program context

byte
double

MNEGF

Move negated

MNEGL

MNEGW

9E
7E

MOVAB
MOVAD

DE
DE

MOVAF
MOVAL

MOVAQ

Move negated long
Move negated word
Move address of byte
Move address of double
Move address of float
Move address of long
Move address of quad

floating

3E
90
28
2C
70
50
DO
34

MOVAW
MOVB
MOVC3
MOVC5
MOVD
MOVF
MOVL
MOVP

Move

address of word

Move

byte

Move character
Move character
Move double
Move

float

Move

long

Move packed

3 operand
5, operand

PERMANENT SYMBOL TABLE

Hexadecimal
Value

Mnemonic

Functional

Name

MOVPSL

Move

program

MOVQ

Move

quad

status

MOVTC

Move

translated

characters

2F
B0

MOVTUC
MOVW

Move
Move

translated
word

until

MOVZBL

Move

2zero-extended

9B
3C

MOVZBW
MOVZWL

Move
Move

byte
zero-extended byte
zero-extended word

MTPR

Move

to processor

84
85
64

MULB2
MULB3
MULD2

Multiply byte 2 operand
Multiply byte 3 operand
Multiply double 2 operand

MULD3

Multiply

double

44
45
C4

MULF2
MULF3
MULL2

Multiply
Multiply
Multiply

floating 2 operand
floating 3 operand
long 2 operand
long

longword

character

long
word
long

operand

MULL3

Multiply

25
A4

MULP
MULW2

Multiply packed
Multiply word 2 operand

MULW3

Multiply

01
75
55

NOP
POLYD
POLYF

No operation
Evaluate polynomial
Evaluate polynomial

POPR

Pop

0C
0D
9F
7F

PROBER
PROBEW

Probe read access
Probe write access
Push address of byte
Push address of double

to
to

word

operand

double
floating

registers

PUSHAB
PUSHAD
PUSHAF

Push

address

float

DF
7F
3F

PUSHAL
PUSHAQ
PUSHAW

Push
Push
Push

address
address
address

of
of
of

long
quad
word

DD
BB

PUSHL
PUSHR

Push
Push

long
registers

REI

Return

from exception or

OF
04

REMQUE
RET

Remove
Return

from queue
from called

9C
05
D9

ROTL
RSB
SBWC

interrupt

procedure
Rotate long
Return from subroutine
Subtract with carry

SCANC

Scan

3B
F4

SKPC
SOBGEQ

Skip character
Subtract one and

for

character
branch on

greater

SOBGTR

Subtract

branch

greater

SPANC

Span characters

82
83
62

SUBB2
SUBB3
SUBD2

Subtract byte 2
Subtract byte 3
Subtract double

63
42
43
C2
C3

SUBD3
SUBF2
SUBF3
SUBL2
SUBL3

Subtract
Subtract
Subtract
Subtract

SUBP4

Subtract long 3 operand
Subtract packed 4 operand

SUBP6

Subtract

one

and

operand
operand
2 operand

double 3 operand
floating 2 operand
floating 3 operand
long 2 operand

packed

C-5

6 operand

equal

PERMANENT SYNMBOL TABLE

Hexadecimal
Value
A2
A3
07
95
73
53

Mnemonic

Functional

Name

SUBW2
SUBW3
SVPCTX
TSTB
TSTD
TSTF

Subtract word 2 operand
Subtract word 3 operand
Save process context
Test byte
Test double
Test float

TSTL

Test

long

TSTW

Test

word

XFC

Extended

8C
8D

XORB2
XORB3

Exclusive-OR byte
Exclusive-OR byte

2 operand
3 operand

Cb
AC
AD

XORL3
XORW2
XORW3

Exclusive-OR long
Exclusive-OR word
Exclusive-OR word

3 operand
2 operand
3 operand

CcC

XORL2

function call

Exclusive-OR long

2 operand

PERMANENT SYMBOL TABLE

APPENDIX

HEXADECIMAL/DECIMAL CONVERSION

Table D-1 lists the decimal value for each possible hexadecimal
value
in
each
byte
of
a
1longword.
The
following
sections
contain
instructions to use
the
table
to
convert
hexadecimal
numbers
to
decimal and vice versa.

D.1

HEXADECIMAL TO

DECIMAL

For each
integer
position
of
the
hexadecimal
value,
1locate
the
corresponding
column integer and record its decimal equivalent in the
conversion table.
Add the decimal equivalent to
obtain
the
decimal
value.
For

example:

DO500ADO

D.2

(16)

?2(10)

D0000000
500000

=
=

3,489,660,928
5,242,880

AQ0O
DO

=
=

2,560
208

DO500ADO

3,494,904,576

DECIMAL TO HEXADECIMAL

Step 1l:

locate

in the conversion table

the largest decimal

value that

does
not
exceed the decimal number to be converted.
Step 2:
record
the
hexadecimal
equivalent
followed
by
the
number
of
O0s
that
corresponds
to
the
integer
c¢olumn
minus 1.
Step 3:
subtract the
table decimal value from the decimal number to be converted.
Step
4:
repeat
steps 1 through 3 until the subtraction balance equals 0.
Add
the hexadecimal equivalents to obtain the hexadecimal value.

HEXADECIMAL/DECIMAL CONVERSION

Example:

22,466

(10)

?(16)

20,480
1,792

=
=

5000
700

-20,480

192
2

=
=

Co
2

——e
1,986

—

22,466

57C2

22,466

1,792

194
192
2

D.3

POWERS OF

2 AND 16

This section lists the decimal values
values are often useful in converting
Powers

Powers

of powers of 2
decimal numbers
16

2%*%n

16**n

256
512
1024
2048
4096
8192
16384
32768
65536
131072
262144
524288
1048576
2097152
4194304
8388608
16777216

8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

1
16
256
4096
65536
1048576
16777216
268435456
4294967296
68719476736
1099511627776
17592186044416
281474976710656
4503599627370496
72057594037927936
1152921504606846976

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

and
16.
These
to hexadecimal.

01L67 v6ZO18’T86VWTL06‘E’6LSTO8V’°‘TC006© v$ LZ TrI69S‘8'‘Ov8B6P0VT°‘0LGIYT06v 0LT P$ 7Zv8goTE/‘LvoE6bVTe’‘6YL0 067L T©PSz¥L81’/‘’6289Ss20P064L 7%Z89L€89/‘'981¢C0 067L|YZbeoR6gAL‘'c0T026LN ZA719T0A07L6 064L

9Vog)90T9€T8L0w’’‘‘pC0sST6zs9Lee’'°iw0C8TSz996e’'°’‘TCtz¥Og990T96LST2£’‘°’'Z€6L9PZES’’‘'L0POT89OTTZV9O9¥09TI£9‘6€L1‘’‘6TPG28E8S9SP‘’T9TOZ6TpTWOg9099TE6€ZW8‘’‘G09€6Z86SLLE9VO99¥092X4ZG9S06YT‘‘Rs06SyFbVO9g¥9Z0¢9L1€G8o96‘’‘CgTzVO94¥09TL996T1¥D9g001ZT19

X3S€8rdH0E€8V82Z99/1‘€0L6€3’‘8d9T0V'L/£T8L’h'P5E9T0’E‘8TSCX38G€ZH8Z08TLeb8w'90'L’°o‘T39wItd8sZe'’°®‘€Eos8TeXd8€ZSH880Zs0Tsg9LT’(S’‘¢8¥LzowI6k¢v’0£z‘’’ECSsX38S€ZH0T880L9o92O‘3’''La9%TZ6E¢1ST€X38Z€SH88‘90ZL26D2'13‘02’d82ZS¥T¢8%XI8SZ€H08%D8¥IZ8Z0A'91‘LTsCXd8S€AIHO8002843v18dXdZ€8SH04S83
HEXADECIMAL/DECIMAL CONVERSION

969Ts.€h06Z‘’s‘1Le8’2v%L608'9Y12T

JYOMONO1

INDEX

A
3-12,

mode,

4-15,

4-13,

program
Accuracy

3-13

Autodecrement

4-16
5-45

.ADDRESS

directive,

5-3

Address,

starting,

5-21,

Autoincrement

of,

4-2

through

B-11 through B-14
.ALIGN directive, 5-4,

5-3

Autoincrement mode,

AMA

attribute,

AND

operator,

4-8
Base

5-5

.BLKA directive,
.BLKB directive,

5-18

.BLKD directive,
.BLKF

directive,
.BLKL directive,

operator,

Arithmetic

in macros,

through

.BLKQ directive,
.BLKW directive,

6-6

6-8

3-5
shift,
3-16

trap enable,

.ASCIC directive,
.ASCID directive,

3-13,

.BLKx

directive,

labels, 3-7, 3-8
storage directives,

Branch

3-14

Byte

5-7
5-8

set, A-l
hexadecimal conversion,

memory for,
directive, 5-11

.BYTE

A-1

storage

through
.ASCIZ

directives,

Assembler

summary

B-1

Call

5-65,

of,

6-1

Changes

2-3,

5-1

through

6-17
5-1,

5-2,

B-6
functions,

6-2,

5-18

separating,

through

5~20
Assigning a value, 3-17
Assignment statements, 3-17,
3-18

indefinite repeat block,

through

Assembler

3-15

instruction,

5-22, 5-23
from VAX-11 MACRO V1.0,
Character,

5-8

directives,

through
6-29

5-9

C
~C operator,

5-6

5-8

directive,

5-11,

3-14

strings, 3-12, 3-13, 5-6
string storage, 5-6 through 5-8

.ASCIXx

5-9

4-18

data,

reserving

character

3-12,

instruction,

initializing memory with,
5-56

ASCII,

operator,

through

Block

4-13

3-12

4-16

5-48

3-5

6-1

pointer,
Arithmetic

4-15,

5-45,

Argument,
macro,

mode,

4-7

4-12,

3-11,

5-5

3-16

concatenation

4-10,

"B unary operator,

4-5,

4-15,

specifier,

through

5-4,

5-5
location counter,
5-25, 5-39
section,

B” displacement

4-6,

Binary operators, 3-15
3-17, B-9
Binary radix, 3-12
Blank lines, 2-2

Alignment,
data, 5-4,

program

index mode,

4-16

5-22
Address, transfer, 5-21, 5-22
Addressing modes, 2-3, 4-1
through 4-18
summary

4-15

Autodecrement mode, 4-8
Autoincrement deferred index mode,
4-15, 4-16
Autoincrement deferred mode, 4-7,
4-8

floating-point

numbers, 3-4
Addition, 3-15
Address data,
initializing memory with,
reserving memory for, 5-9

section,

5-48

index mode,

4-16

4-14

sections,
of

program

through

U1U'IU'IU'IQ:1UIU1(J'I

Absolute,
index mode,

5-44

|
WO OWOWWOWYWYWLY

“A operator,

Attributes,

set,

3-1,

set,

ASCII,

6-16,

3-3

3-2
A-1

special, 3-1 3-2, B-7, B-8
strings, 3-12, 3-13, 5-6
Characters, counting, 6-9, 6-25

Combining arguments

Index-1

in macros,

6-6

INDEX

Default values of macro

Comment field, 2-1, 2-4
Complement operator, 3-15

arguments, 6-3
Deferred mode,
autoincrement, 4-7
displacement, 4-9,
register, 4-6
relative, 4-13
Defining,
labels, 2-2
macros, 6-19, 6-20

Concatenated program sections,
5-46

Concatenating arguments in
macros,

6-6

Conditional assembly blocks,
5-29 through 5-35
controlling listing of, 5-54,
5-55

one line block, 5-35
subconditionals, 5-32 through
5-34
Condition tests, 5-30
Continuation lines, 2-2
Continuing program sections, 5-44
Controlling listings, 5-54, 5-55
Counted ASCII string storage,
5-7
Counter, current location, 3-18
Counting characters, 6-9, 6-25

Counting macro arguments,
Counts,

repeat,

5-56,

5-57,

3-10,

6-24

5-11,

5-37,

5-65

.CROSS directive, 5-13, 5-14
Cross reference listing, 5-13,
5-14
Current

location counter,

opcodes, 5-40, 5-41
Degree of precision, 3-4
Deleting a macro, 6-22
Delimited ASCII strings, 5-6
Delimiters in macro arguments,
6-4 through 6-6
Descriptors, string, 5-8
Direct assignment statements,
3-17, 3-18
Directives, 2-3, 3-5, 5-1
through 5-65, 6-1 through
6-29
.DISABLE directive, 5-16, 5-18
through 5-20
LOCAL_ BLOCK attribute, 3-8

Disabling assembler functions,
5-16,

Data,
Data,

mode,

reserving memory for, 5-9
initializing memory with,

4-8,

4-9

specifier,

4-8

4-12,
Division,

4-16

through 4-10,

4-13
3-15

Documenting a program, 2-4
.DOUBLE directive, 5-17
Double precision, 3-4, 5-17
Double-precision data,
initializing memory with, 5-17
reserving memory for, 5-9
.DSABL directive, 5-16, 5-18
through

5-20

DV arithmetic trap enable,

Debugging information, 5-15, 5-18
Decimal/hexadecimal conversion,
'D-1' through D-4
Decimal radix, 3-11, 3-12
Decimal strings, 3-4, 3-5, 5-42
.DEFAULT directive, 5-16
Default program sections, 5-44,
5-48
Default radix, 3-11

through 5-20

controlling default, 5-16
deferred index mode, 4-15,
deferred mode, 4-9, 4-10
index mode, 4-15, 4-16

3-12

address, 5-3
ASCII, 5-6 through 5-8
byte, 5-11, 5-56
double-precision, 5-17
floating-point, 5-26
longword, 5-37
packed decimal, 5-42
quadword, 5-49
signed, 5-56, 5-57
word, 5-57, 5-65
DBG attribute, 5-18
.DEBUG directive, 5-15

5-18

Displacement,

3-18

D
“D unary operator, 3-11,
Data alignment, 5-4, 5-5

4-10

.ENABIL directive,
5-20

.ENABLE directive,

3-14

5-18 through

5-20

LOCAL_BLOCK attribute, 3-8
Enabling assembler functions,
through 5-20
.END directive, 5-21

Index-2

5-18

INDEX

.ENDC directive, 5-21, 5-29
through 5-31
Ending,
conditional assembly blocks,
5-21, 5-29 through 5-31
macro definitions, 6-13, 6-19,
6-20
modules,

Format,

Functions,

repeat range definitions, 6-13,
6-14 through 6-16
.ENDM directive, 6-13, 6-19, 6-20
.ENDR directive, 6-13 through 6-16
.ENTRY directive, 5-22, 5-23
Entry mask, 3-13, 3-14, 5-22, 5-23,
5-38
.ERROR directive, 5-24
Exclusive OR operator, 3-17
Executable program sections,
5-44 through 5-46
Expanding a macro, 6-1,
Exponent, 3-4

6-2

Expressions, 3-9, 3-10
evaluation of, 3-9
floating point, 3-14
restrictions on, 3-10
.EXTERNAL directive, 5-25
External symbols, 3-7, 5-25,

assembler,

through

2-2

5-18

through

GBL attribute, 5-18, 5-19
General mode, 4-15
General registers, 3-5
General register modes, 4-1
through 4-12
.GLOBAL directive,

5-27
Global program sections, 5-46
Global symbols, 2-2, 3-7, 3-17,
5-18, 5-19, 5-25, 5-27, 5-64
defining, 2-2
weak,

5-64

5-27

5-27,

Hexadecimal/ASCII conversion, A-1l
Hexadecimal/decimal conversion,

string operator,

.EXTRN directive, 5-25
.EVEN directive, 5-25
Exiting a macro, 6-13,

.GLOBL directive,

'6-11

D-1 through D-4
Hexadecimal radix, 3-12
6-19,

6-20

“F operator, 3-14, 3-15
Factors, repetition, 3-10,
5-37, 5-56, 5-57, 5-65
Field,
comment, 2-1, 2-4

I~ addressing mode, 4-14,
. IDENT directive, 5-28

rounding of, 5-18, 5-19
truncation of, 5-18, 5-19
Floating-point operator, 3-15
Floating-point short literals,

4-15

Identifying a module, 5-28,
.IF directive, 5-29 through

5-60
5-31
through

5-11,

label, 2-1 through 2-3
operand, 2-1, 2-3, 2-4
operator, 2-1, 2-3
.FLOAT directive, 5-25
Floating-point data,
initializing memory with, 5-17,
5-26
reserving memory for, 5-9
Floating-point expressions, 3-14
Floating-point numbers, 3-3,
3-4, 3-14, 3-15
format of, 3-4

4-11

2-1

5-20

5-21

5-64
$EXTRACT macro

statement,

2-4
Formatting with tabs, 2-1,
FP register, 3-5, 3-14
FPT attribute, 5-18, 5-19
Frame pointer, 3-5

.IF_FALSE directive, 5-32
5-34
.IF_TRUE directive, 5-32 through
5-34
.IF_TRUE_FALSE directive, 5-32
through 5-34
.IFF directive, 5-32 through 5-34
.IFT directive, 5-32 through 5-34
.IFTF directive, 5-32 through 5-34
.IFx directives, 5-32 through 5-34
.IIF directive, 5-35
Immediate conditional block, 5-35
Imnmediate mode, 4-14
Inclusive OR operator, 3-17
Indefinite repeat blocks, 6-14,
6-15
Indefinite repeat character blocks,
6-16, 6-17
Index mode, 4-15 through 4-18

Index-3

INDEX

Initializing memory with,
address data, 5-3
ASCITI data, 5-6 through 5-8
byte data, 5-11, 5-56
floating-point data, 5-17,
5-26
longword data, 5-37
packed data, 5-42
quadword data, 5-49
word data,

5-57,

5-65

Instructions,

1-1,

2-3,

C-1

Local program sections, 5-46
2LOCATE macro string operator,
6-10, 6-11
Location counter, 3-18
alignment, 5-4, 5-5, 5-28, 5-35
Logical AND operator, 3-16
Logical exclusive OR operator,
3-17

Logical

3-5,

.LONG directive,

through C-8

redefining, 5-40, 6-20
Integer expressions, 3-9,
Integers, 3-3

initializing memory with,
reserving memory for, 5-9
LSB attribute, 3-8, 5-19

3-10

symbols, 2-2, 3-7,
.IRP directive, 6-14, 6-15

3-17

.IRPC directive, 6-16, 6-17
trap enable, 3-14

IV arithmetic

in macros,

Macros,

6-3,

L
L"” displacement specifier, 4-8
through 4-10, 4-12, 4-13
Label,

defining a, 2-2
field, 2-1, 2-2
local, 3-7, 3-8
names, 2-2
terminator, 2-2
$LENGTH macro string operator, 6-9
Length of source line, 2-1
Lexical operators, 6-8 through 6-12
.LIBRARY directive, 6-18
Lines, continuation, 2-2
.LIST directive, 5-36, 5-54, 5-55
Listing,
control of, 5-42, 5-54, 5-55
cross reference, 5-13, 5-14
table of contents, 5-59
Literal mode, 4-10 through 4-12
Literals, short, 4-10 through 4-12
Local

label

block,

delimiters, 3-8
disabling, 3-8, 5-18, 5-19
enabling, 3-8, 5-~18, 5-19
restoring, 5-51
saving, 5-52
Local labels, 3-7, 3-8, 5-18,
5-19
created, 6-7, 6-8

5-37

“M operator, 3-13, 3-14
Machine instructions, 1-1
.MACRO directive, 6-19, 6-20

K
arguments

5-37

Longword data,

Internal

Keyword
6-4

inclusive OR operator,

3-16

6-1

through

6-29

arguments in, 6-1 through 6-8
calls to, 2-3
controlling listing of, 5-54,
5-55
definitions of, 6-19, 6-20
deletion of, 6-22
exiting from, 6-23
expanding, 6-1, 6-2
libraries containing, 6-18
maximum line size, 2-2
names of, 3-6, 6-13, 6-19, 6-20
redefining, 6-19, 6-20
string operators in, 6-8 through
6-12
.MASK directive, 5-22, 5-38
Mask, register save, 3-13, 3-14,
5-22, 5-38
.MCALL directive, 6-21
.MDELETE directive, 6-22

Messages,

printing assembly,

5-24,

5-43, 5-63
.MEXIT directive,

6-23
Mnemonic instructions, 3-5, C-1
through C-8
Modes, addressing, 2-3, 4-1
through 4-18
.
summary of, 4-2 through 4-5,
B-11

through B-14

Module, identifying,
Multiplication, 3-15

5-28,

5-60

Names,

macro,

Index-4

3-6,

6-13,

6-19,

6-20

INDEX

Names (Cont.)
module, 5-60

Passing numeric values

in macros,

6~7

3-5

PC register,

3-6

Permanent

3-5

symbols,

3-5,

C-1

.NARG directive, 6-24
.NCHR directive, 6-25
Negative numbers, 3-3
.NLIST directive, 5-38, 5-54,
5-~55
.NOCROSS directive, 5-13, 5-14,
5-39
.NOSHOW directive, 5—39' 5‘54,

Position-independent code, 5-46,
5-47
Precision of floating-point
numbers, 3-4
.PRINT directive, 5-43
Printing assembly messages, 5-24,
5-43, 5-63

5-55
.NTYPE directive,

Program counter modes,

Number

of macro
6-24

Numbers,

Program

6-26

counter,

through

arguments,

6-1,

4-12

4-15

Program sections,
5-48

5-44

through

3-3

floating point,

3-3,

3-4,

3-14,

3-15, 5-17, 5-26
integer, 3-3
packed decimal, 3-4, 3-5, 5-42
Numeric control operators, 3-14,
3-15

Q
.QUAD directive,
Quadword

initializing memory with,
reserving memory for, 5-9

0 unary operator,

3-11,

5-40,

directive,

3-12

Radix control, 3-11, 3-12
Radix default, 3-11
Radix operators, 3-11, 3-12
in macro arguments, 6-5
Real numbers, 3-3, 3-4

6-20

5-40,

Redefining,
5-41

instructions,

5-40,
6-20
opcodes, 5-40, 6-20
.REFn directive, 5-50

Operand,

field, 2-1, 2-3
generation directives,
types, 6-26

macros,

5-50

Operator,

binary, 3-15 through 3-17,
field, 2-1, 2-3
macro

string,

unary,

3-10

6-8

through

B-9
6-12

3-15,

5-46

P
Packed decimal strings,
5-42
.PACKED directive, 5-42
.PAGE directive, 5-42
Page ejection, 5-42

3-4,

3-5,

4-16

3-14

4-6
names, 3-5
save mask,

Overlaid program sections,

4-15,

mode,

B-8,

3-17

6-20

6-19,

B-9
OR operators,

5-49

Octal radix, 3-11, 3-12
.ODD directive, 5-39
Opcodes, C-1 through C-8
defining, 5-40, 5-41
redefining,

5-49

data,

.OPDEF

3-5

3-13,

3-14,

5-22,

5-38
Relative,
default displacement, 5-16
deferred index mode, 4-15, 4-16
deferred mode, 4-13
index mode, 4-15, 4-16
mode, 4-12, 4-13
Relocatable program sections, 5-47
Repeat blocks, 6-28, 6-29
character, indefinite repeat,
6-16, 6-17

controlling

Index-5

listing of,

5-54,

5-55

INDEX

Repeat blocks (Cont.)
indefinite, 6-14, 6-15
Repeat counts, 3-10, 5-11,
5-56, 5-57, 5-65

.REPEAT directive,
Repeating

a block

6-29
Repetition

6-28,
of

factors,

Storage,
5-37,

ASCII,

5-8

5-3
5-6 through

5-8

byte, 5-11, 5-56
double-precision,

5-11,

5-9

longword, 5-37
packed decimal, 5-42
signed, 5-56, 5-57
quadword, 5-49
word, 5-57, 5-65

String,
arguments
6-6

in macros,

AsCII,

3-13,

Rounding floating-point numbers,
5-18, 5-19

3-12,

descriptors,
operators,

addressing mode,

4-10 through

5-52

Saving a program section,

5-52

Saving

5-52

local

label block,

.SBTTL directive,

Sections,

5-18,
Symbols,

5-44

program sections,

5-47

3-7

names

3-6

of,

5-25,

3-5,

listing,

3-2,

B-8

Stack pointer, 3-5
Starting address, 5-21, 5-22
Statement format, 2-1 through 2-4

5-27,

5-64

C-1

Tab formatting, 2-1, 2-2
Table of contents, listing, 5-59
TBK attribute, 5-19
Technical changes from VAX-11

MACRO V1.0,

Temporary labels,
Terms, 3-9

3-7,

3-8

5-30

Textual operators, 3-12
.TITLE directive, 5-60

3-1,

6-12

undefined, 5-18, 5-19
user-defined, 2-2, 3-6

Testing conditions,

blank, 2-2
continuing, 2-2
format of, 2-1
length of, 2-1
SP register, 3-5
B-7,

through

5-20,

internal,
permanent,

Shift operator, arithmetic, 3-16
Short literals, 4-10 through 4-12
.SHOW directive, 5-54, 5-55
.SIGNED_BYTE directive, 5-56
Signed data storage, 5-56 through
5-58
.SIGNED_WORD directive, 5-57, 5-58
Single precision, 3-4, 5-26
Single-precision data,
initializing memory with, 5-26
reserving memory for, 5-9
Source lines,

Special characters,

6-8

5-19
3-5, 3-17

through

5-48

Separating characters, 3-3
Shareable images, 5-61, 5-62
Shareable

5-6

external, 3-7, 5-25, 5-27, 5-64
global, 2-2, 3-7, 3-17, 5-18

5-=59

program,

through

5-8

Subtraction, 3-15
Suppressing symbol table

4-12

.SAVE directive, 5-52
.SAVE PSECT directive,

6-4

packed decimal, 3-4, 3-5, 5-42
Subconditional assembly blocks,
5-29 through 5-31
.SUBTITLE directive, 5-59

S
S”

5-17
5-26

floating—-point,

.RESTORE PSECT directive, 5-51
Restoring a program section,
5-51
Reserved bits in entry mask, 3-14,
5-22
storage,

5-9

through

address,

6-28,

5-37, 5-56, 5-57, 5-65
.REPT directive, 6-28, 6-29
.RESTORE directive, 5-51

Reserving

5-6
5-9

Storing,

6-29

code,

3-10,

reserving,

ASCII,
block,

through

3-14

Traceback information, 5-19
.TRANSFER directive, 5-61, 5-62
Trap enable, arithmetic, 3-13,
3-14
Truncating floating=-point number,
5-18,

5-19

Type of operand

Index-6

in macros,

6-24

INDEX

U
Unary operators,

w
3-10 through

W displacement specifier,

5-48

Word data,

3-15, B-8, B-9
in macro arguments, 6-5
summary of, 3-11, B-8, B-9
Undefined symbols, 5-18, 5-19
User-defined program sections,
5-44

through

4-8 through 4-10, 4-12,
.WARN directive, 5-63
Warning directive, 5-63
.WEAK directive, 5-64
Weak symbols, 5-64

User-defined symbol, 2-2
User—-generated,
errors, 5-24
messages, 5-43
opcodes, 5-40, 5-41
operands, 5-50
warnings, 5-63

Vector,

passing arguments by,

transfer,

Version number,

5-61,

5-28

4-13

initializing memory with, 5-57,
5-65
reserving memory for, 5-9
.WORD directive, 5-65
Write protecting program sections,
5-44, 5-46

“X unary operator,

Value,

4-7,

5-62

6-7

Zero terminated ASCII string,
5-8

Index-7

3-12

VAX-11 MACRO

Language Reference Manual

AA-D032B-TE

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